-
276
BC.Eratosthenes
first determined
the world’s circumference by using
observations obtained while looking down a
well on the summer solstice, when the sun is
directly over head at the Tropic of Cancer.
He noticed that the well was totally
illuminated at noon and made several
mathematical assumptions and calculations
based on distances of two cities, angles, and
circumference of a circle. -
325
BC.Pytheas
sailed northward from Greece
to Iceland in 325 BC and worked out a
method for determining latitudes and
using astronomical measurements
proposed that tides were a product of
lunar influences. -
Jan 7, 1400
Prince Henry “TheNavigator”
established a marine observatory to
improve the Portuguese sailing endeavors and
conquered one of the greatest trades
problems-getting around the tip of Africa
The Cape of Good Hope was finally rounded by
Bartholomeu Diaz in 1486
Explored canary isles, African coast (Columbus
1492) -
Jan 7, 1513
Magellan
the Spanish
captain, Ferdinand
Magellan, circumnavigated
the globe through a passage
way at 52° S latitude now
called the Straights of
Magellan. -
Voyage of “Beagle”
English Naturalist, Charles
Darwin, investigated the whole
of nature leading him to make
one of the most outstanding
contributions to biology while
on his voyage aboard the
H.M.S Beagle.December 27, 1831 – Under
Captain Robert Fitzroy a 5
year trip surveyed the coast
line resulted in -
bc. herodontuns map
constructed a map of the Mediterranean Sea in 490 BC. -
Eric the Red
During a period of Climatic warming - similar to
today’s “Global Warming” - the Vikings of Scandinavia
conquered Iceland. 982 A.D. Eric the Red sailed westward from
Greenland and discovered Baffin Island.
