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Nov 12, 1347
The first guns appear in Europe
Smaller cannons were being developing, evenutally transforming into personal firearms. The guns origianted in China, traveling to Europe almost 2 centuries later, They started appearing in daily use throughout empires for warfare and protection. -
Nov 7, 1390
Geoffrey Chaucer writes a book of directions about astrolabe
The astrolabe was invented in Hellenistic age in 150 b.c. Geoffrey Chaucer writes the first English "technical maunual" called the Treatise of the Astrolabe. In the first part of it, it explains the pieces of the astrolabe, and the rest of it, shows how to use it. This allowed people to create metal astrolabes that improved the accuracy of wooden precursors.It also concluded to the first mechanical astronomical clock being made that was able to show the current spot of orbiting objects in space -
Nov 12, 1400
Major Improvements to Ships
Among the major changes to ships were they were built smaller, and went faster. Also, the sails were crafted into triangular shapes to change the wind current. -
Nov 12, 1406
FOUND: Ptolomey's world map
The discovery of Ptolomey's 2nd century world map was huge to Columbus, he put together where the continents are, and believed that Asia could be found if he sailed west from Europe. It becomes the best existing map of the world. -
Nov 12, 1420
Creation of caravels
Caravels were a huge gain in the world of exploration. The newly designed ships were smaller than the original ships and were easy to maneuver. The maneuverability allowed the Portuguese to explore the West African coast and Atlantic Ocean. Also, for the first time it allowed Asians to explore the Atlantic Ocean by rounding the Cape of Good Hope. Caravels were able to sail towards the wind with its power and speed. -
Nov 12, 1440
Guttenberg Bible
The Guttenberg bible became the first book to be printed on movable type, and on a printing press.This evolutionary time, caused books to be inexpensive. This allowed knowledge to travel the quickest in history. -
Nov 12, 1487
Bartholomeu discovers the Cape Horn
Bartholomeu Dias was a Portuguese explorer, and became the first European to sail around the southern tip of Africa. He was on an expedition to find a trade route to India. He stopped his voyage for awhile, and when he wanted to continue his crew refused, and when he heading back he discovered Cape Horn. -
Nov 12, 1499
Amerigo Vespucchi discovers a new continent
Originally, Columbus discovered South America a year ago, but thought it was part of Asia. Then when Vespucchi explored the coast of the continent he realized it wasn't, and named it after him. -
Nov 12, 1504
Total Eclipse-Columbus vs. Native Amricans
Columbus learned that there would be a total eclipse of the moon. He told the Indians that God would punish them by removing the light unless they promised to supply the Spaniards with food and other supplies.The Indians did not believe this but before the eclipse was complete, they, with that came back begging for forgivness with provisions, praying to Columbus to intervene with God in their behalf. -
Nov 12, 1513
Vasco Núñez de Balboa discovers the Pacific
Vasco crosses the Isthmus of Panama and reaching the Pacific Ocean becoming the first European to have seen or reached the Pacific from the New World. He was looking a kingdom of gold, and men and supplies were short in his town, so he had to recruit his own, and with that discovered the South Sea(Pacific Ocean). -
Nov 12, 1520
Magellan rounds Cape Horn and enters Pacific Ocean
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who beame led the first expedition from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. He also contributed to the first circumnavigation of the Earth. -
Nov 12, 1539
Hernando De Soto Discovers Southeastern U.S.
De Soto led the first expediton through deep Southeastern U.S. territory to find luxurious items and a passage to China. He was the first known European to cross the Mississippi River. -
Nov 12, 1540
Coronado explores American southwest
Coronado was a spanish explorer who sailed to America in search of the rumored seven golden cities. Unable to find these magnificent cities, he sent his men through the lands deeper into North America to find these places. After months of searching, he headed back to end the quest. -
Nov 13, 1577
Sir Francis Drake circumnavigates the globe
Sir Francis Drake became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world, and the secong man of all-time to do so. Queen Elizabeth was amazed at his success during the Panama isthmus raid against the Spaniards, she sent him on another expeditition, to make his country proud and become the first Englishman to sail around the world. -
Galileo builds his first telescope
Galileo builds a telescope that can magnify an image by 3x. Later improving the magnification to 30x. -
SUMMARY
Throughout time, extraordinary people completed great achievements throughout time, changing the world's path. Each new piece of land discovered led to new encounters of men, disease, and technology. Also, technology contributed to many further findings of land, and other technologies. Explorers who set the record of becoming the first at accomplishing something, inspired others to push harder and deeper to strive farther to become greater.
