1. FAMOUS TRAVELERS OF ANCIENT BPEMEH

Hanno (505) - Herodotus (484) - Pytheas (340) - Eudoxus (146) - Strabo (63)

Hanno of Carthage - Fortunate (Canary) Islands, Evening Horn, Southern Horn, Rio de Oro Bay - Herodotus visits Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, Phenicia, Arabia, Babylonia, Persia, Media, Colchis, Caspian Sea, Scythia and Thrace - Pytheas explores the shores of Iberia and Celtish, the English Channel, the island of Albion, the Orcadian (Orkney) Islands, the land of Thule - Nearchus travels around the Asian coast from the Indus to Persian Gulf- Eudoxus gets acquainted with the western coast of Africa - Strabo travels through Inner Asia, Egypt, Greece and Italy

The first traveler mentioned in historical sources was Hanno, sent by the Carthaginian 1 (numbers - see note at the end) Senate to colonize new territories on the west coast of Africa. The account of this expedition was written in Punic 2 and translated into Greek; it is known as "Sea trip around the world Hanno." What era did this explorer live in? Historians have different opinions. But the most reliable version is considered to be the one according to which his visit to the African shores dates back to 505 BC 3 .

Map of the Argonauts' voyage

The Southern Horn was, without a doubt, the final point reached by the Punic expedition. Some historians claim that the Carthaginian fleet did not go further than Cape Bojador, located two degrees north of the tropics, but the first point of view seems to us more likely.

Having reached the Southern Horn, Hanno began to lack food supplies. Then he turned north and returned to Carthage, where, by his order, a marble slab with a description of the journey “around the world” was placed in the temple of Baal Moloch.

After the Carthaginian navigator, the most famous of the ancient travelers in historical times was the Greek scientist Herodotus, nicknamed "the father of history." For our purpose we will separate the traveler from the historian and follow him to the countries he visited.


Greek galley. 500 BC

Herodotus born around 484 BC 9 in the Asia Minor city of Halicarnassus. He came from a wealthy and noble family with extensive trade connections, which may have contributed to the development of the instincts of a traveler and explorer awakened in the boy.

At that time, there was no consensus regarding the shape of the Earth. The Pythagorean school had already begun to spread the doctrine that the Earth was spherical. But Herodotus did not take any part in these disputes that worried the scientists of his time. In his early youth, he left his homeland with the intention of carefully studying distant countries, about which very scanty and contradictory information was received.

In 464, at the age of twenty, he left Halicarnassus. Apparently, Herodotus first went to Egypt, where he visited the cities of Memphis, Heliopolis and Thebes. During the trip, he managed to obtain a lot of valuable information about the Nile floods. In his notes, he gives various opinions regarding the sources of this great river, which the Egyptians revered as a deity.

“When the Nile floods,” says Herodotus, “nothing is visible except cities; they appear to be built on top of water and resemble the islands of the Aegean Sea.”

Herodotus talks about the religious rites of the Egyptians, how they make sacrifices to their gods and how they solemnly celebrate holidays in honor of the goddess Isis in the city of Busiris, the ruins of which are still visible today. Herodotus also reports how the Egyptians revered wild and domestic animals, considering them sacred, and gave them funeral honors. With the precision of a true naturalist, he describes the Nile crocodile and its habits; describes the methods by which crocodiles are caught. We find out what other animals there are and what the Egyptian hippopotamus, ibis bird, and various snakes are like.

Herodotus depicts the home life of the Egyptians, their customs, games, and talks about the art of embalming the dead, which the Egyptians mastered to perfection. Next, he reports what structures were erected under Pharaoh Cheops: a labyrinth built near Lake Merisa, the remains of which were discovered in 1799; Lake Meris, created by human hands, and two pyramids that rose above the surface of its waters; Herodotus speaks with surprise about the temples erected in Memphis, about the famous colossus made of solid stone, on the transportation of which two thousand people worked for three years from Elephantine 10 to Sais.

Having carefully studied Egypt, Herodotus headed to other countries of Libya, that is, Africa, but the young traveler did not even imagine that Africa extended far to the south, beyond the Tropic of Cancer; he believed that the Phoenicians could go around this continent and return to Egypt through the Strait of Gibraltar 11.


Egyptian ship. 1600 BC

Listing the peoples living in Libya, Herodotus mentions the shepherd tribes wandering along the coast of Africa, and also names the Ammonians, who live in the interior of the country, in places abounding in wild beasts. The Ammonians built the famous temple of Zeus of Ammon, the ruins of which were discovered in the northeast of the Libyan Desert, 500 kilometers from the city of Cairo 12. He also describes in detail the customs and morals of the Libyans and reports what animals are found in this country: snakes of terrible size, lions, elephants, horned donkeys (probably rhinoceroses), baboon monkeys - “headless animals with eyes on their chests”, foxes , hyenas, porcupines, wild sheep, panthers, etc.

According to Herodotus, Libya is inhabited by two peoples: Libyans and Ethiopians. But did he really travel through this country? Historians doubt this. Most likely, he wrote down many of the details from the words of the Egyptians. But there is no doubt that he really sailed to the city of Tyre, in Phenicia, since here he gives quite accurate descriptions. In addition, Herodotus collected information from which he compiled short description Syria and Palestine.

Following this, Herodotus descends to the south - to Arabia, a country he calls Asian Ethiopia, that is, to that part of Southern Arabia, which he considers the last inhabited land. The Arabs living on the Arabian Peninsula, according to him, are strictly religious people. In their country valuable plants grow in abundance, from which frankincense and myrrh are obtained. The traveler provides interesting details about how fragrant substances are extracted from these plants.

Then we meet Herodotus in the countries he vaguely calls either Assyria or Babylonia. He begins the story of these countries with a careful description of Babylon, in which the kings lived since the destruction ancient capital Nineveh. The ruins of Nineveh have survived to this day, in the form of mounds scattered along both banks of the Euphrates, at a distance of 78 kilometers southeast of Baghdad. Big, fast and deep river The Euphrates then divided the city of Nineveh into two parts. In one towered a fortified royal palace, in the other - the temple of Zeus. Next, Herodotus speaks of the two queens of Babylon - Semiramis and Nitocris; then he goes on to describe crafts and agriculture, telling how wheat, barley, millet, sesame, grapes, fig trees and palm trees are cultivated in this country.

Having studied Babylon, Herodotus went to Persia and, since the purpose of his trip was to collect accurate information about the long Greco-Persian wars, he visited the places where these wars took place in order to obtain on the spot all the details he needed. Herodotus begins this part of his history with a description of the customs of the Persians. They, unlike other peoples, did not give their gods a human form, did not erect either temples or altars in their honor, content with performing religious rites on the tops of the mountains.

Next, Herodotus speaks about the life and morals of the Persians. They have an aversion to meat, a love of fruit, and a passion for wine; they show interest in foreign customs, love pleasure, value military valor, take raising children seriously, respect the right to life of everyone, even a slave; they hate lies and debts, and they despise lepers. The disease of leprosy serves as proof for them that “the unfortunate person has sinned against the Sun.”

The marriage was accompanied by nationwide publicity

Herodotus's India, according to Vivien de Saint-Martin 13 , is limited to the countries irrigated by the five tributaries of the present Panjnad, and to the territory of Afghanistan. The young traveler headed there, leaving the Persian kingdom 14. The Indians, in his opinion, are the most numerous of the known peoples. Some of them lead a sedentary lifestyle, others are constantly nomadic. The tribes living in the east of this country, as Herodotus claims, not only kill the sick and old people, but allegedly even eat them. The tribes living in the north are distinguished by their courage and skill in crafts. Their land is rich in golden sand.

Herodotus believes that India is the last inhabited country in the East. It maintains the same fertile climate at all times of the year as in Greece, located on the opposite end of the earth.

Then the indefatigable Herodotus went to Media, 15 where he compiled the history of the Medes, the first people to overthrow the yoke of the Assyrians. The Medes founded large city Ecbatana (Hamadan), which was surrounded by seven rows of walls. Having crossed the mountains that separated Media from Colchis, the Greek traveler entered the country famous for the exploits of Jason 16 and studied its customs and customs with his characteristic conscientiousness.


Athenian merchant ship. 500 BC

Herodotus, apparently, was well acquainted with the contours of the Caspian Sea. He says that "this sea is in itself, and has no communication with another." The Caspian Sea, according to him, is limited in the west Caucasus mountains, and in the east by a vast plain inhabited by the Massagetae, who probably belonged to the Scythian tribe. The Massagetae worshiped the sun and sacrificed horses to it. Herodotus also speaks of the great river Arak, which flows into the Caspian Sea.

Then the traveler ends up in Scythia. Scythians - according to Herodotus' definition - various tribes inhabiting the vast space between the Danube and Don, that is, a significant part European Russia. Herodotus calls the tribe of “princely Scythians” who occupied the banks of the Tanais (Don) river the most numerous and powerful. In addition, Herodotus mentions the tribes of Scythian nomads and Scythian farmers.

Although Herodotus lists various Scythian tribes, it is not known whether he personally visited the countries located north of Pontus Euxine 17. He describes in detail the customs of these tribes and comes into sincere delight from Pontus Euxine - this “ hospitable sea" Herodotus determines the dimensions of the Black Sea, Bosphorus, Propontis 18 and Sea of ​​Azov, and his definitions are almost correct. He lists big rivers, flowing into the Black Sea: Ister, or Danube; Borysthenes, or Dnieper; Tanais, or Don.

The traveler conveys many myths about the origin of the Scythian people; in these myths, a large role is given to Hercules. He ends his description of Scythia with a story about the marriages of Scythians with warlike women from the Amazon tribe, which, in his opinion, can explain the Scythian custom that a girl cannot get married until she kills an enemy.

From Scythia, Herodotus arrived in Thrace. There he learned about the Hets - the most courageous people who inhabited this country 19. He then traveled to Greece, where he wanted to collect the missing information for his history. He visited areas where the main events of the Greco-Persian wars took place, including the Passage of Thermopylae, the Field of Marathon and Plataea. He then returned to Asia Minor and traveled around its coast, exploring the numerous colonies founded there by the Greeks.

Returning at the age of 28 to his homeland, Halicarnassus, the famous traveler took part in the popular movement against the tyrant Lygdamis and contributed to his overthrow. In 444 BC, Herodotus attended the Panathenaic festivals and read excerpts from the description of his travels there, arousing general enthusiasm. At the end of his life, he retired to Italy, to Turium, where he died in 426 BC, leaving behind his fame famous traveler and an even more famous historian.

After Herodotus, we will step a century and a half later, mentioning a doctor by name Ctesias, a contemporary of Xenophon 20. Ctesias wrote an account of his journey through India, although there is no reliable information that he actually completed it.

In chronological order, let us now move on to Pytheas from Massilia - to a traveler, geographer and astronomer, one of the most learned men of his time. In 340 BC, Pytheas ventured to sail the Atlantic Ocean on a single ship. Instead of following the coast of Africa to the south, as his Carthaginian predecessors usually did, Pytheas went north, where he began exploring the coast of the Iberian Peninsula 21 and the coast of the Celtic country, right up to the granite Cape Finisterre. Then Pytheas entered the English Channel and landed on the island of Albion 22. He met the inhabitants of this island, who, according to him, were distinguished by good nature, honesty, moderation and ingenuity. They traded in tin, for which traders from distant countries came here.

Continuing north, Pytheas passed the Orkney Islands, located at the northern tip of Scotland, and rose to a latitude where “in summer the night did not exceed two hours.” After a six-day voyage North Sea Pytheas reached the land known since then as Ultima Thule. Apparently, this was the Scandinavian peninsula. But Pytheas was no longer able to move further north. “Further,” he says, “there was no sea, no land, no air.”

Pytheas was forced to turn back, but his journey did not end there: he sailed east and arrived at the mouth of the Rhine, where the Ostions lived, and even further the Germans. From there he sailed to the mouth big river, which he calls Thais (probably it was Elba), and then sailed back to Massilia and returned to his hometown a year after he left.

The remarkable traveler Pytheas was no less a remarkable scientist; He was the first to prove the influence of the Moon on the ebb and flow of the sea and noticed that the North Star does not occupy a point in celestial space that is located above the earth's pole, which was subsequently confirmed by science.

A few years after Pytheas, around 326 BC, another Greek traveler became famous for his research - Nearchs islands of Crete. As commander of the fleet of Alexander the Great, he was ordered to travel around the entire coast of Asia from the Indus to the Euphrates.

Nearchus sailors scare the whales

The idea of ​​such an expedition was prompted by the need to establish communications between India and Egypt, in which Alexander was extremely interested, being at that time with his army 800 miles from the coast, in the upper reaches of the Indus. The commander equipped a fleet for Nearchus, consisting of thirty-three double-decker galleys and a large number of transport ships, which accommodated two thousand people. While Nearchus sailed with his fleet down the Indus, Alexander's army followed him on both banks. Having reached the Indian Ocean four months later, Nearchus sailed along the coast that now forms the border of Balochistan.

Nearchus set out to sea on the second of October, without waiting for the winter monsoon, which could have been favorable for his voyage. Therefore, in forty days of travel, Nearchus barely managed to swim 80 miles to the west. His first sites were made in Stura and Koreistis; these names do not correspond to any of the current villages located in those places. Then he sailed to the island of Krokala, which lies near the modern Karantian Bay. The fleet, destroyed by storms, took refuge in a natural harbor, which Nearchus was forced to strengthen “to protect against the attack of savages.”

Twenty-four days later, the naval commander of Alexander the Great again raised the sails and set off to sea. Violent storms forced him to make frequent stops at various places on the coast and defend himself from attacks by the Arabites, whom Eastern historians characterized as “a barbarian people who wear long hair, grow beards and look like fauns or bears.”

After many adventures and skirmishes with coastal tribes, Nearchus landed on the land of the Orites, which in modern geography bears the name: Cape Moran. “In this area,” notes Nearchus, describing his journey, “the sun at noon illuminated all objects vertically, and they did not cast shadows.” But Nearchus is apparently mistaken, since at this time of year the daylight was in the southern hemisphere, on the Tropic of Capricorn, and not in the northern hemisphere; in addition, the ships of Nearchus always sailed at a distance of several degrees from the Tropic of Cancer; therefore, even in summer in these areas, the sun at noon could not illuminate objects vertically.

When the northeast monsoon set in, sailing continued under favorable conditions. Nearchus followed the coast of the country of ichthyophages, that is, “people who eat fish” - a rather pitiful tribe who, due to a lack of pasture, were forced to feed their sheep with seafood. Here Nearchus's fleet began to lack food supplies. Having rounded Cape Posmi, Nearchus took a native helmsman into his galley. Driven by coastal winds, Nearchus' ships successfully moved forward. The coast became less barren. There were trees here and there. Nearchus landed at a city of ichthyophages, the name of which he does not indicate, and, suddenly attacking the inhabitants, forcibly seized from them the supplies that his fleet so needed.

Then the ships arrived in Kanazida, in other words, the city of Churbar. The ruins of this city can still be seen near the bay of the same name. By that time, the Macedonians were already running out of bread. It was in vain that Nearchus stopped in Kanata, in Troy and in Dagazir - he was unable to obtain anything from these poor peoples. The sailors had no more meat or bread, and yet they did not dare to eat turtles, which abound in these countries.

Almost at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, the fleet encountered a large herd of whales. The frightened sailors wanted to turn the galleys back, but Nearchus boldly went forward on his ship, towards the sea monsters, which they managed to disperse.

Having reached Carmania 23, the ships diverted to the northwest. The banks here were fertile; Everywhere there were grain fields, vast pastures, and fruit trees. Nearchus dropped anchor at Badis, present-day Iask. Then, having rounded Cape Maseta or Mussendon, the navigators found themselves at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, to which Nearchus, like the Arab geographers, gives the unusual name of the Red Sea.

In the harbor of Harmosia (Ormuz), Nearchus learned that Alexander's army was five days' journey away. Having landed on the shore, he hastened to join the conqueror. Alexander, having not received any news about his fleet for twenty-one weeks, no longer hoped to see it. One can imagine the commander’s joy when Nearchus, emaciated beyond recognition, appeared before him safe and sound! To celebrate his return, Alexander ordered gymnastic games to be held and abundant sacrifices to be made to the gods. Nearchus then went again to Harmosia, where he left his fleet to sail from there to the mouth of the Euphrates.

Sailing along the Persian Gulf, the Macedonian fleet landed on many islands, and then, rounding Cape Bestion, sailed to the island of Keisho, on the border of Carmania. Then Persia began. Nearchus' ships, following along the Persian coast, stopped in different places to stock up on bread, which Alexander sent here.

After several days of sailing, Nearchus arrived at the mouth of the Endiana River, then reached the river flowing from the large, fish-infested lake Kataderbis, and finally dropped anchor near the Babylonian village of Degela, not far from the mouth of the Euphrates, thus sailing along the entire Persian coast. Here Nearchus again united with the army of Alexander the Great, who generously rewarded him and appointed him commander of his entire fleet. Alexander also wanted to explore the Arab coast of the Persian Gulf, right up to the Red Sea, and establish a sea route from Persia and Babylon to Egypt, but death prevented him from carrying out this plan.

Nearchus compiled a description of his journey, which, unfortunately, has not survived. A detailed account of his voyages is contained in the book of the Greek historian Flavius ​​Arrian 24 “History of India”, which has come down to us in fragments.

Nearchus is believed to have been killed at the Battle of Ipsus. He left behind the glory of a skilled navigator, and his journey constitutes an important event in the history of navigation.

Now we should also mention the bold enterprise of the Greek geographer Eudoxa, who lived in the 2nd century BC. Having visited Egypt and the shores of India, this brave traveler had the intention of circumnavigating Africa, which was actually accomplished only sixteen centuries later by the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama.

Eudox hired big ship and two longboats and set off across the unfamiliar waters of the Atlantic Ocean. How far did he take his ships? It's difficult to determine. Be that as it may, having met the natives, whom he mistook for Ethiopians, he returned to Mauritania, and from there crossed over to Iberia and began preparations for a new extensive journey around Africa. Was this journey made? Doubtful. It must be said that this Eudoxus, an undoubtedly brave man, does not deserve much trust. In any case, scientists do not take him seriously.


Roman galley. 110 BC

Among the ancient travelers it remains for us to mention the names of Caesar and Strabo. Julius Caesar 26, born in 100 BC, was primarily a conqueror and did not set out to explore new countries. Let us only recall that in 58 BC he began to conquer Gaul and ten years later he brought his legions to the shores of Great Britain, which was inhabited by peoples of Germanic origin.

As for , born in Cappadocia 27 around 63 AD, he is known more as a geographer than a traveler. However, he traveled through Asia Minor, Egypt, Greece, Italy and lived for a long time in Rome, where he died in last years reign of Tiberius. Strabo left a Geography divided into seventeen books, most of which have survived to this day. This work, together with the works of Ptolemy, constitutes the most important monument of ancient Greek geography.

NOTES

1Carthage was founded by the Phoenicians around 850 BC on the northern coast of Africa, in the Gulf of Tunis.

2 The Romans called the Carthaginians Punes; hence the name of the language - Punic.

3 The exact date of the expedition Hanno impossible to install. Modern scholars date it to the 5th or 6th century BC. The description of this voyage has come to us in the form of an “adventure novel,” in which reliable facts are intertwined with fictional ones. However geographical description the western coast of Africa, the story of steppe fires within the country leaves no doubt about the authenticity of the journey, which was subsequently overgrown with various fables.

Hanno was the first navigator to visit West Coast Africa. He sailed along this coast from the Strait of Gibraltar to the south for about 4,500 kilometers. Nineteen centuries later, it took Portuguese navigators fifty years to explore the coastline that Hanno had bypassed.

4 Pillars of Hercules- two mountains on the European and African shores of the Strait of Gibraltar, allegedly erected by the mythical hero Hercules. According to the ancient Greeks, the Pillars of Hercules were the western edge of the known world.

5 Probably the Senegal River.

6 Cymbals- an ancient musical instrument in the form of copper cymbals. Tambourine- a percussion musical instrument resembling a tambourine.

7 Southern Horn- now Sherborough Bay in the state of Sierra Leone (formerly an English colony), located on the shores of the Gulf of Guinea.

8 We must assume that these were not gorillas, but chimpanzees.

9 Biographical information about Herodotus is extremely scarce. The exact years of his life are not known; he is believed to have been born around 484 BC and died in 424 or 426 BC. Herodotus is the author of the first large historical work that has come down to us - the famous “History”, in which he included rich geographical material collected during his long travels. It is impossible to say exactly which countries Herodotus visited during his travels. There is no doubt that he visited Egypt and the northern coast of the Black Sea. In the east it probably reached Babylon. Herodotus also speaks of a journey to India, but this description has no historical basis.

10 Island Elephantine(Ivory) is located on the Nile River, at the first rapids, on the border of Egypt and Sudan.

11 Here the author is referring to the story Herodotus heard in Egypt about the journey of Phoenician sailors around Africa, undertaken by order of the Egyptian pharaoh Necho around 600 BC. This enterprise has no equal in the history of geographical discoveries, so we will present in full short story Herodotus: “Libya, it turns out, is surrounded by water all around, with the exception of the part where it borders on Asia; the first to prove it, as far as we know, egyptian pharaoh Nehao. Having suspended the digging of a canal from the Nile to the Arabian Gulf [Red Sea], he sent the Phoenicians on ships to the sea with orders to sail back through the Pillars of Hercules [Strait of Gibraltar] until they entered the North [Mediterranean] Sea and arrived in Egypt.

The Phoenicians sailed from the Erythraean [Red] Sea and entered the South Sea [ Indian Ocean]. When autumn came, they landed on the shore and, no matter where they landed in Libya, sowed the land and waited for the harvest; After harvesting the grain, they sailed on. So two years passed in the voyage, and only in the third year they rounded the Pillars of Hercules and returned to Egypt.

They also said, which I don’t believe, but someone else might believe, that while sailing around Libya, the Phoenicians had the sun on the right side. This is how Libya became known for the first time.”

12 Ammon(Siwa) is an oasis in the Libyan desert.

13 Vivienne de Saint-Martin(1802–1897) - French geographer, author of the famous work “Essay on General Geography” and other works.

14 Herodotus did not travel through Afghanistan and India; He collected information about these countries in Babylon.

15 Mussel was located south of the Caspian Sea. Under the Persian king Cyrus (c. 558–529 BC) it became part of Persia. Main city- Ecbatana.

16 Jason- in Greek mythology, the leader of the Argonauts' campaign for the Golden Fleece. According to one version of the myth, he died under the wreckage of the Argo ship; according to another, he committed suicide. The myth of the Argonauts who sailed from Greece to Colchis ( East Coast Black Sea), is a reflection of the history of early Greek colonization (VIII-VII centuries BC).

17 The ancient Greeks originally called the Black Sea Pont Aksinsky(inhospitable) due to strong and frequent storms. Subsequently, when the Greeks colonized the Black Sea shores, the sea was renamed Pont Euxine (hospitable).

18 Propontis(literally: “lying in front of Pontus”) – Sea of ​​Marmara.

19 Thrace- a country located in the north Balkan Peninsula; its shores were washed by the Black Sea from the east, and the Aegean from the south.

20 Xenophon- Greek historian of the late 5th - first half of the 4th century BC, author of “Greek History”, “Anabasis” and other works.

21 Iberia- the ancient name of Spain.

22 Albion- the ancient name of the island of Great Britain, which translated means “White Island” (the name was given by Pytheas because of the chalk cliffs towering over the English Channel).

23 Karmania– region in the south of Iran; according to the ancients, it was inhabited by nomads who fed on fish (ichthyophages).

24 Arrian Flavius(c. 95–175 AD) was a Roman-period Greek writer, historian and geographer. The main works: “Anabasis of Alexander” (History of the campaigns of Alexander the Great) and “History of India”.

25 Mauritania- an area on the northwestern coast of Africa. At the beginning of the 1st century AD it became a Roman province.

26 Caesar Julius(full name Gaius Julius Caesar) - Roman Emperor,

27 Cappadocia- the name of an area located in the southeastern part of the Asia Minor peninsula.

Anyone who reads about the brave wanderers of the Middle Ages who tried to open more profitable trade routes or perpetuate their name will be delighted to imagine how this happened. Passionate sea lovers smell sea ​​water and see the open sails of the frigates in front of them. What is most surprising is how great travelers were able to survive their adventures in reality, showing so much perseverance and resourcefulness. Thanks to them, the world learned about new lands and oceans.

The Reality of Dangerous Travels

It is a pity that, in fact, the great travelers could not always feel the taste of romance: their ships were wrecked, and the entire crew could get sick with a disease unprecedented in those days. The sailors themselves, who ventured into new discoveries, had to endure hardships and were often overtaken by death. It is not surprising that today many are so admired by their courage and determination! One way or another, thanks to some of the travelers, new continents were discovered, and some of them made an invaluable contribution to world geography. With the help of historical documents that contain eyewitness accounts or notes from ship's logs, we can have a plausible account of their travels. However, it is a pity that great geographical travelers rarely achieved what they set out to achieve.

Christopher Columbus in pursuit of spices and gold

We are talking about a man who all his life dreamed of going on a long voyage. Like anyone else who found himself in his place, he understood that he could not do without financial support, and it was not so easy to find it from rich monarchs who did not want to share their finances. Where did the desperate traveler want to go? He wished with all his heart to find the shortest western route to India, which at that time was famous for its spices, which were worth their weight in gold.

Trying to prove that he was right, Columbus continued to repeatedly come to the Spanish king and queen for eight long years. It is worth noting that his plan had many flaws. Despite the fact that scientists were already convinced of the spherical shape of the Earth, the question was which strip of the world's oceans separates Europe from Asia. As it turned out later, Christopher made two serious mistakes. Firstly, he assumed that the territory of Asia occupied a much larger area than it actually was. Secondly, Columbus underestimated the size of our planet by a full quarter.

Columbus's first expedition

Be that as it may, “knock and it will be opened to you”: the expedition was approved, three ships were equipped for the voyage. The enterprising Spanish monarchs thirsted not only for profitable trade routes - they liked the very idea of ​​​​converting the eastern countries to Catholicism. And so on August 3, 1492, about 90 people set off on a long voyage. They sailed many nautical miles, but rich lands never appeared on the horizon. Columbus constantly had to reassure his crew, sometimes even downplaying the actual distances traveled during the lengthy voyage. And finally, as it might seem, they achieved their goal! Where did our tireless sailors get to?

The land his team reached was Bahamas. Naked natives were encountered there every now and then, and the tropical climate was conducive to relaxation. But in any case, this was not at all what the great travelers set out for, leaving their homes and families. After a two-week rest, the sailors moved on and reached Cuba. Columbus could not calm down because he could not find either spices or gold.

Then the odyssey continued to the east, where the treasured gold was discovered. This happened on the island, which Columbus gave the name La Isla Hispaniola (now Hispaniola). Christopher Columbus already dreamed of how these lands would be subordinated to the Spanish crown. A return home and great honors awaited him, as well as another journey.

Columbus's subsequent expeditions

The following year, an entire armada, consisting of 17 ships and more than 1,200 people, set off with Columbus. Among the people there were many soldiers and priests. The Spaniards wanted to turn new lands into colonies and make the inhabitants Catholics. Columbus still wanted to reach the shores of India.

Two subsequent voyages to eastern India only slightly increased the navigator's happiness. Be that as it may, the sea routes that were designated by him contributed to the colonization of the entire continent - North America. Thanks to his achievements, the world turned upside down.

Vasco da Gama - the great navigator

Vasco da Gama lived a little earlier than Columbus, and had already discovered the route to India, skirting Africa. Preparations for it long journey began long before his birth - how different this case was from what happened to Columbus! The Portuguese monarchs understood the importance of the spice trade. Manuel I, King of Portugal, believed that only a person who, as one historian put it, “would combine the courage of a soldier with the cunning of a merchant and the tact of a diplomat” could become the head of the expedition. According to the king, it was Vasco da Gama who was suitable for this role.

In terms of natural skills and enterprise, this man was very different from Columbus - he knew his business well, understood where and why he was sailing. The first expedition, although it was associated with certain difficulties, ended in success - Vasco da Gama concluded peaceful relations and an agreement with the Indian ruler on the sale of spices. The delighted King of Portugal immediately ordered the organization of subsequent expeditions. Thus, thanks to this courageous man, a new sea route from Europe to Asia was opened.

For many centuries there lived different people who achieved a lot in natural science and geography. If we talk about the achievements of our compatriots, the first great Russian traveler who immediately comes to mind is Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay. Although his achievements, of course, cannot be put on a par with the merits of Christopher Columbus, James Cook, Vasco da Gama or Amerigo Vespucci. Particularly interesting is his conclusion that cultural and racial characteristics and differences between peoples are determined by the natural and social environment.

Among other Russian travelers who made a certain contribution to the development of geography are Fyodor Konyukhov, Yuri Senkevich, Ivan Papanin, Nikolai Przhevalsky, Afanasy Nikitin, Erofey Khabarov, Vitus Bering and many others. The life of each of them is a long journey, full of eventful events.

A huge thirst for knowledge invested in a person

The question may arise: where do people have such an urgent need for something unknown and distant? The fact is that from childhood a person has a need to recognize the world, explore it, find answers to the questions: “What is the meaning of life? What are we doing on our planet?” We are all essentially “great” travelers and discoverers at heart. We are designed this way, one might even say, created this way, to constantly learn about the world around us. It is no coincidence that we are on Earth and are very different from animals, no matter how some try to prove that we descended from our smaller brothers. Many books have been written about a person’s desire to learn about the world around him since childhood. One of these stories was written by M. Zoshchenko - “Great Travelers”. Next, I would like to briefly tell you what kind of book this is.

M. Zoshchenko, "Great Travelers"

In every person, an adult or a very child, lives his own Columbus or Vasco da Gama. Already from childhood, we can observe how a child wants to understand the world around him. Zoshchenko's story "Great Travelers" tells the story of three children who are going on a long journey around the world. They took a lot of different things, which were very difficult to carry, and which eventually turned into unnecessary rubbish. This short educational story teaches children that great achievements require knowledge. Zoshchenko's story "Great Travelers" is a masterpiece in miniature.

Instead of a conclusion

As we see, in each of us there lives a huge thirst for the unknown - whether you are a great Russian traveler or an ordinary person. Everyone strives to find answers to burning questions. Great travelers and their discoveries only prove this simple and very important truth. In the meantime, whether we travel long distances during our short lives or not, each of us will begin and end our earthly journey, full of adventure and lifelong. The only question is: what will we discover during this journey and what will we leave behind?

These people sailed to the horizon, crossed oceans, unknown lakes and unexplored valleys in search of new lands, riches and adventures. Among the most famous travelers in world history who explored our planet, discovering new lands, are Roald Amundsen, Christopher Columbus and 7 other outstanding personalities.

The Norwegian explorer who undertook several expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic and, together with his team, on December 14, 1911, after a grueling race with a competitor, Robert Falcon Scott, became the first person to reach the geographic South Pole. Previously, Roald was the first to cross the Northwest Passage (1903-1906).

Born on July 16, 1872 in the Norwegian city of Borg and died on June 18, 1928 at the age of 55 near Bear Island in the Arctic.

English polar explorer, naval officer, who, together with his escort, reached the South Pole on January 17, 1912, about a month after Amundsen’s competitor. Robert's first expedition, during which he explored Victoria Land and the Ross Ice Shelf, took place in 1901-1904.


Born on June 6, 1868 in Devonport (Plymouth, England). He died on March 29, 1912 (age 43) at base camp in Antarctica.

3. . The famous British navigator and discoverer who first mapped Newfoundland and became the first European to discover the eastern coast of Australia and Hawaii. Over three voyages, James explored the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic coast to the Bering Strait.

Born November 7, 1728 in Marton (Middlesbrough, England). 02/14/1779 was killed at the age of 50 by Native Hawaiians in Kileikqua (Big Island, United States).

4. . A Portuguese sailor who, on assignment Spanish king in 1519 he set off on a circumnavigation of the world, heading west. So Fernand discovered the Strait of Magellan, later named after him, located at the upper end South America. He was not destined to talk about the discovery in his homeland. In 1522, only a few members of the crew returned to Portugal.


Born in 1480 in Sabrosa (Vila Real). On April 27, 1521, at the age of 41, he died at the hands of the aborigines on the island of Mactan in the Philippines.

5. . One of the most famous Portuguese navigators and discoverers, who found a sea route to India in 1498 on behalf of Henry the Navigator. On the flagship São Gabriel, accompanied by two other ships (São Rafael und Bérrio), Vasco rounded the cape Good Hope and returned home to Lisbon in 1499. The sailors filled the holds to the brim with bags of spices.

Vasco was born in Sines (Setubal) in 1469, and died in Kochi (India) on December 24, 1524 at the age of 55 years.

6. . Florentine navigator, navigator, merchant and cartographer. For the first time he suggested that the part of the world found by Christopher Columbus and later called “America” was a previously unknown continent. The name, which was associated with the name "Amerigo", was proposed by the cartographer from Freiburg im Breisgau Martin Waldseemüller.


The Florentine was born on March 9, 1451 in Florence (Florentine Republic, now Italy). He died at the age of 60 in Seville (Spain) on February 22, 1512.

7. . The most famous sea traveler from Genoa, who, on behalf of Spain, crossed four times Atlantic Ocean looking for something easier sea ​​route to India, eventually opening the continent of America to Europeans (1492), which began the era of colonization. During the first expedition, which included the ships Pinta, Niña and Santa Maria, Christopher accidentally discovered the island of San Salvador in the Caribbean Sea 36 days later.


He was born in 1451 in Genoa (Genoese Republic, now a province of Italy). He died on May 20, 1506 in Valladolid (Spain), when he was 55 years old.

8. . A Venetian merchant who documented his travels and often backed up what he saw with evidence. Thanks to him, Europeans learned about Central Asia and China. According to Marco, he lived for 24 years at the court of Chinese Emperor Kubla Khan, but historians doubt this. The name Polo inspired pioneers of subsequent generations.


Born in 1254 in Venice (Venetian Republic, now Italy) and died there at the age of 70 on January 8, 1324.

Scandinavian navigator who reached the North American continent 5 centuries before Columbus. In the 11th century, he sailed to it on his ship and became the first European to set foot on this land. Leif christened the discovered territory Vinland. The Scandinavian established trade relations between Greenland, Norway and Scotland.


Ericsson had a fiery temperament. Born in Iceland in 970, and died on the island of Greenland at the age of 50 in 1020.

(nicknamed Red). Norwegian-Icelandic navigator and discoverer. For murder in 982 he was expelled from Iceland for 3 years and, on a sea voyage, came across the western coast of Greenland, where he founded the first Viking settlement in 985. Eirik called the discovered territory “green land.”


Although in Russian the Norman's nickname is translated as “red,” historians believe that in reality it means “bloody.” Thorvaldson was born in 950 in Jären (Norway). He died in 1003 at the age of 53 in Brattalid (Greenland).

The people listed above made important discoveries that influenced the course of history. They explored the Arctic and Antarctic, and “gave” North America, Greenland and other lands to the Europeans. Travelers created new sea and land routes that facilitated trade between countries.


Russian navigators, along with European ones, are the most famous pioneers who discovered new continents, sections of mountain ranges and vast water areas. They became the pioneers of significant geographical objects, took the first steps in the development of hard-to-reach territories, and traveled around the world. So who are they, the conquerors of the seas, and what exactly did the world learn about thanks to them?

Afanasy Nikitin - the very first Russian traveler

Afanasy Nikitin is rightfully considered the first Russian traveler who managed to visit India and Persia (1468-1474, according to other sources 1466-1472). On the way back he visited Somalia, Turkey, and Muscat. Based on his travels, Afanasy compiled the notes “Walking across the Three Seas,” which became popular and unique historical and literary aids. These notes became the first book in Russian history written not in the format of a story about a pilgrimage, but describing political, economic and cultural characteristics territories.


He was able to prove that even being a member of a poor peasant family, you can become a famous explorer and traveler. Streets, embankments in several Russian cities, a motor ship, passenger train and airflight.

Semyon Dezhnev, who founded the Anadyr fortress

Cossack ataman Semyon Dezhnev was an Arctic navigator who became the discoverer of a number of geographical objects. Wherever Semyon Ivanovich served, everywhere he sought to study new and previously unknown things. He was even able to cross the East Siberian Sea on a homemade kocha, going from Indigirka to Alazeya.

In 1643, as part of a detachment of explorers, Semyon Ivanovich discovered Kolyma, where he and his associates founded the city of Srednekolymsk. A year later, Semyon Dezhnev continued his expedition, walked along the Bering Strait (which did not yet have this name) and discovered the easternmost point of the continent, later called Cape Dezhnev. An island, a peninsula, a bay, and a village also bear his name.


In 1648, Dezhnev hit the road again. His ship was wrecked in the waters located in the southern part of the Anadyr River. Having arrived on skis, the sailors went up the river and stayed there for the winter. Subsequently this place appeared on geographical maps and received the name Anadyrsky fort. As a result of the expedition, the traveler was able to do detailed descriptions, make a map of those places.

Vitus Jonassen Bering, who organized expeditions to Kamchatka

Two Kamchatka expeditions inscribed the names of Vitus Bering and his associate Alexei Chirikov into the history of marine discoveries. During the first voyage, the navigators conducted research and were able to supplement the geographical atlas with objects located in Northeast Asia and on the Pacific coast of Kamchatka.

The discovery of the Kamchatka and Ozerny peninsulas, the Kamchatka, Krest, Karaginsky bays, Provedeniya Bay, and St. Lawrence Island is also the merit of Bering and Chirikov. At the same time, another strait was found and described, which later became known as the Bering Strait.


The second expedition was undertaken by them with the aim of finding a way to North America and the study of the Pacific Islands. On this journey, Bering and Chirikov founded the Peter and Paul fort. It took its name from the combined names of their ships (“St. Peter” and “St. Paul”) and subsequently became the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

On the approach to the shores of America, the ships of like-minded people lost sight of each other, due to heavy fog. "St. Peter", controlled by Bering, sailed to the west coast of America, but was caught in a severe storm on the way back - the ship was thrown onto an island. The last minutes of Vitus Bering’s life passed on it, and the island subsequently began to bear his name. Chirikov also reached America on his ship, but completed his voyage safely, having discovered several islands of the Aleutian ridge on the way back.

Khariton and Dmitry Laptev and their “name” sea

Cousins ​​Khariton and Dmitry Laptev were like-minded people and assistants to Vitus Bering. It was he who appointed Dmitry as commander of the ship “Irkutsk”, and his double boat “Yakutsk” was led by Khariton. They took part in the Great Northern Expedition, the purpose of which was to study, accurately describe and map the Russian shores of the ocean, from the Yugorsky Shar to Kamchatka.

Each of the brothers made a significant contribution to the development of new territories. Dmitry became the first navigator to take photographs of the coast from the mouth of the Lena to the mouth of the Kolyma. He compiled detailed maps of these places, using mathematical calculations and astronomical data as a basis.


Khariton Laptev and his associates conducted research on the northernmost section of the Siberian coast. It was he who determined the dimensions and outlines of the huge Taimyr Peninsula - he carried out surveys of its eastern coast, and was able to identify the exact coordinates of the coastal islands. The expedition took place in difficult conditions - a large amount of ice, snowstorms, scurvy, ice captivity - Khariton Laptev’s team had to endure a lot. But they continued the work they had started. On this expedition, Laptev's assistant Chelyuskin discovered a cape, which was later named in his honor.

Noting the great contribution of the Laptevs to the development of new territories, members of the Russian Geographical Society decided to name one of them after them. largest seas Arctic. Also, the strait between the mainland and the island of Bolshoy Lyakhovsky is named in honor of Dmitry, and the western coast of the island of Taimyr is named after Khariton.

Krusenstern and Lisyansky - organizers of the first Russian circumnavigation

Ivan Kruzenshtern and Yuri Lisyansky are the first Russian navigators to circumnavigate the world. Their expedition lasted three years (began in 1803 and ended in 1806). They and their teams set off on two ships, which were named “Nadezhda” and “Neva”. The travelers passed through the Atlantic Ocean, entered the waters Pacific Ocean. The sailors followed them to Kuril Islands, Kamchatka and Sakhalin.


This trip allowed me to collect important information. Based on data obtained by seafarers, a detailed map Pacific Ocean. Another important result of the first Russian round-the-world expedition was the data obtained on the flora and fauna of the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka, local residents, their customs and cultural traditions.

During their journey, the sailors crossed the equator and, according to maritime traditions, could not leave this event without a well-known ritual - a sailor dressed as Neptune greeted Krusenstern and asked why his ship had arrived where the Russian flag had never been. To which I received the answer that they are here solely for the glory and development of domestic science.

Vasily Golovnin - the first navigator who was rescued from Japanese captivity

Russian navigator Vasily Golovnin led two expeditions around the world. In 1806, he, being in the rank of lieutenant, received a new appointment and became commander of the sloop "Diana". Interestingly, this is the only case in the history of the Russian fleet when a lieutenant was entrusted with the control of a ship.

The leadership set the goal of the round-the-world expedition to study the northern part of the Pacific Ocean, with special attention to that part of it that is located within the borders of their native country. Diana's path was not easy. The sloop passed the island of Tristan da Cunha, passed the Cape of Hope and entered a port owned by the British. Here the ship was detained by the authorities. The British informed Golovnin about the outbreak of war between the two countries. The Russian ship was not declared captured, but the crew was not allowed to leave the bay. After being in this position more than a year, in mid-May 1809, the Diana, led by Golovnin, tried to escape, but the sailors successfully succeeded - the ship arrived in Kamchatka.


Golovnin received his next important task in 1811 - he was supposed to compile descriptions of the Shantar and Kuril Islands, the shores of the Tatar Strait. During his journey, he was accused of not adhering to the principles of sakoku and was captured by the Japanese for more than 2 years. It was possible to rescue the team from captivity only thanks to the good relations between one of the Russian naval officers and an influential Japanese merchant, who was able to convince his government of the harmless intentions of the Russians. It is worth noting that before this, no one in history had ever returned from Japanese captivity.

In 1817-1819, Vasily Mikhailovich made another trip around the world on the Kamchatka ship, specially built for this purpose.

Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev - discoverers of Antarctica

Captain of the second rank Thaddeus Bellingshausen was determined to find the truth in the question of the existence of the sixth continent. In 1819, he went out to the open sea, carefully preparing two sloops - Mirny and Vostok. The latter was commanded by his like-minded friend Mikhail Lazarev. The first round-the-world Antarctic expedition set itself other tasks. In addition to finding irrefutable facts confirming or refuting the existence of Antarctica, the travelers planned to explore the waters of three oceans - the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian.


The results of this expedition exceeded all expectations. During the 751 days that it lasted, Bellingshausen and Lazarev were able to make several significant geographical discoveries. Of course, the most important of them is the existence of Antarctica, this historical event occurred on January 28, 1820. Also, during the trip, about two dozen islands were found and mapped, sketches of Antarctic views, and images of representatives of the Antarctic fauna were created.


Interestingly, attempts to discover Antarctica were made more than once, but none of them were successful. European navigators believed that either it did not exist, or it was located in places that were simply impossible to reach by sea. But the Russian travelers had enough perseverance and determination, so the names of Bellingshausen and Lazarev were included in the lists of the greatest navigators of the world.

There are also modern travelers. One of them .

travelers

in paintings by artists N. Solomin and S. Yakovlev

Russian travelers wrote brilliant pages in the history of geographical discoveries. They not only explored the vast expanses of the Motherland, but also made discoveries and research far beyond its borders.

Semyon Ivanovich Dezhnev (born around 1605 - died in 1672/3) - famous explorer and sailor. Served in Tobolsk, Yeniseisk, Yakutsk; went on long and dangerous trips to the Yana, Indigirka, and Oymyakon rivers. Setting out in 1648 from the Lower Kolyma fort, Dezhnev sailed from the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and practically proved the existence of a strait separating Asia from America.

Thaddeus Faddeevich Bellingshausen (1779-1862) - famous navigator and prominent scientist. He took part in the expedition of Krusenstern and Lisyanek, then commanded, together with M.P. Lazarev, the sloops “Vostok” and “Mirny” in 1819-1821. This expedition to the South Pole made a great geographical discovery - it reached the shores of Antarctica, and also conducted extensive research in the equatorial and tropical zones of the Pacific Ocean and made improvements to sea maps.

Pyotr Petrovich Semenov-Tyan-Shansky (1827-1914) is a remarkable Russian geographer and traveler. The first of the Europeans penetrated into the hard-to-reach areas of the Central Tien Shan and established that the Chu River does not flow into Lake Issyk-Kul, discovered the sources of the Naryn and Saryjaz rivers, the second highest Tien Shan peak - Khan Tengri, and huge glaciers covering its slopes.

Pyotr Kuzmich Kozlov (1863-1936) - a remarkable Russian traveler, explorer of Central Asia. Participating in the expeditions of N. M. Przhevalsky, M. V. Pevtsov and V. I. Roborovsky, he repeatedly crossed Mongolia and China. From 1899 to 1926, Kozlov led three expeditions to Central Asia. He studied the mountains of the Mongolian Altai, penetrated the least explored areas of the Tibetan Plateau; opened in the center of the Mongolian deserts ancient city Khara-Khoto; carried out excavations of the Khentei-Noinulinsky mounds, enriching science with diverse information about the regions of Central Asia.

Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklouho-Maclay (1846 - 1888) - famous Russian traveler and scientist, anthropologist and ethnographer. He spent twelve years in New Guinea, Malacca, Australia and the Pacific Islands, studying the peoples inhabiting them. The founder of modern anthropology, Miklouho-Maclay was a passionate fighter against racial discrimination and colonial oppression.

Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky (1839-1888) - great Russian traveler and geographer. Already after the first expedition to the Ussuri region (1867-1869), he became famous as a talented explorer of distant and little-known lands. He conducted four expeditions to Central Asia, during which he crossed vast spaces from the Sayan Mountains to Tibet and from the Tien Shan to Khingan.

Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev (1788-1851) - famous navigator, naval commander and scientist-researcher. Together with F. Sh. Bellingshausen, he commanded a remarkable naval expedition that discovered Antarctica. Even before that, he circumnavigated the world on the ship "Suvorov", and after sailing to Antarctica, he made a trip around the world for the third time, commanding the frigate "Cruiser". He devoted the last seventeen years of his life to the education of Russian sailors and the construction of the Black Sea Fleet.

Slide No. 10

Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern (1770-1846) - a remarkable navigator and scientist-researcher. He commanded the first Russian round-the-world expedition from 1803 to 1806. The expedition clarified the map of the Pacific Ocean, collected information about the nature and inhabitants of Sakhalin, the Pacific Islands and Kamchatka. Krusenstern published a description of his journey and compiled a two-volume atlas of the Pacific Ocean.

Slide No. 11

Georgy Yakovlevich Sedov (1877-1914) - brave navigator, Arctic explorer. In 1912 he came up with a project for traveling to the North Pole. Having reached the ship “St. foka" of Franz Josef Land, Sedov made a bold attempt to reach North Pole on a dog sled, but died on the way to his cherished goal.

Slide No. 12

Gennady Ivanovich Nevelskoy (1813-1876) - an outstanding researcher Far East. He spent about six years in the Amur region, studying its nature. In 1849, Nevelskoy, during voyages in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, proved that Sakhalin is an island separated from the mainland by the navigable Tatar Strait.

Slide No. 13

Vladimir Afanasyevich Obruchev (1863-1956) - a wonderful traveler, the largest Soviet geologist and geographer. After explorations in Central Asia (1886) and numerous expeditions to Eastern Siberia, in 1892, the scientist went to Mongolia and China for two years, covering more than thirteen and a half thousand kilometers during this time. Obruchev headed major geological research in Siberia.