Politios was a Greek soldier, and his interest in history led him to join the expedition. At the age of about 60, he began to study and write the history of the Roman Empire. Polybios is a historian who witnessed the places and events described in the book. For example, he experienced the demise of Carthage in North Africa in BC 146.
Politios wants to explain how the history of a country affects the countries around it. He doesn't just rely on his own opinions or other people's works. He began a series of trips to Asia Minor, Egypt, Italy, France and Spain to explore the reasons for the outward expansion of the Roman Empire. He attached importance to the collection of data, which provided a method for future historians to engage in historical research. Polybius did not explore the unknown, but thoroughly investigated how the Roman Empire was established.
Of the 40 volumes of historical works written by Polybius, only 5 volumes of the original works (the writing plan of his complete works) have been preserved. But over the years, some chapters of other volumes have been discovered and reprinted.
Left: This mural from Pompeii, Rome shows a church by the sea. Politios must have often seen this kind of scenery during his voyage.
Hannibal the Carthaginian commander crossed the Alps on his way to Rome, which is one of the most famous legends in Roman history. In order to confirm the truth of this story and feel the situation faced by Hannibal's army, Polybius went there himself.
Fernand de Magellan
Death deprived Fernand Magellan of his honor as the first explorer to sail around the world. He was born in Portugal on 1480. He spent several years learning to sail before the Spanish king ordered him to lead an expedition to find the westbound route to the spice islands of east indies. 15 19 September, five ships with about 250 crew members set sail.
The journey west across the Atlantic to Brazil was uneventful, but then the situation began to deteriorate. A ship in the fleet was killed in a storm off the coast of Patagonia, Argentina. Then Magellan's captains plotted against him. A ship turned around and came back Magellan executed one of the conspirators, leaving them on the desolate beach and setting sail again.
Left: On this map of 1650, the strait of magellan separating the South American continent from Tierra del Fuego is marked.
The remaining three ships continued to sail through a narrow strait, opening the South American continent and the southern tip. This strait is now called strait of magellan. Three ships were short of supplies when crossing the Pacific Ocean, but worse things followed.
When the fleet arrived in the Mariana Islands, local residents attacked them. Magellan was killed in a battle with a tribe on the Philippine island of Makatan. Finally, a "Victoria" led by Captain Juan Sebastian del Cano returned to Spain on September 1522. A round-the-world voyage finally came to an end, but lost its leader.
The name of the Pacific Ocean was created by Ferdinand de Magellan [balboa called it the "Great South China Sea"]. As soon as the voyage team sailed through stormy strait of magellan, it found that the sea was calm and calm, and it was sent all the way to the west. This is Magellan's sea of peace, which is the Pacific Ocean.
Juan sebastian del cano
After Ferdinand de Magellan was killed in his epic voyage around the world, Juan Sebastian del Cano took over the expedition.
Left: This map of the world was drawn in the15th century, before Del Cano returned from a long voyage.
Del Cano is an experienced Spanish sailor. When Magellan's expedition set sail in 15 19, he was the captain of one of the five ships, but he was also one of the masterminds of the riots on the way. Del Cano survived because he was not exposed.
After Magellan's death, Delcano faced a problem: of the 250 people who set out, only 108 was left, so it was difficult for such a small number of people to equip and leave three ships. So Delcano decided to burn a boat, and then they returned to China via the Spice Islands. Another Trinidad decided to sail eastward and return to America. Delcano and his family finally left only 18 people, and returned to their hometown in September of 1522, which is almost three years since the date of departure.
Despite a terrible experience with Magellan, Juan Sebastian del Cano went out to sea again on 1526 and sailed for the spice island. The purpose of this expedition was to bring back valuable spices, but it was unfortunate. The leader of the expedition died on the way and was replaced by Del Cano. But he died on the road himself.
145 1 ~ 1506
Columbus stumbled upon the American continent while looking for a westward route from Western Europe to Asia. This has a greater impact on world history than he might have expected. His discovery was a major turning point in history and opened a new era of new world development and colonization. At that time, the population of Europe was expanding. With this discovery, Europeans have two new continents to live in, and they have mineral resources and raw materials that can change the European economy. This discovery led to the destruction of American Indian civilization. In the long run, it has also led to the emergence of some new countries in the western hemisphere. These countries are very different from the Indian tribes who once settled in this area, and they have greatly influenced the countries of the old world.
The outline of Columbus' deeds is well known. He was born in Genoa, Italy in 145 1. When he grew up, he became a captain and a skilled navigator. He was finally convinced that a feasible navigation route to East Asia could be found from the Atlantic Ocean in the west. He is determined to turn this idea into reality. He finally persuaded Queen Isabella I, who funded his adventure.
His large and small ships set sail from Spain on August 3, 492. The first stop was the Canary Islands near the coast of Africa. Set sail from the island to the west on September 6. It was a long voyage, and the sailors were terrified and wanted to return, but Columbus insisted on moving on, and the land appeared in their sight in June 1492+ 10/2.
In March the following year, Columbus returned to Spain. The explorer who returned home in triumph was awarded the highest honor. Then, he crossed the Atlantic three times, trying to find a direct route to China or Japan. Columbus insisted that he had found a way to East Asia. Most people have realized that this is not the way to East Asia, but he still thinks he is right.
Isabella promised Columbus that he could be the ruler of any land he found. But as an administrator, he was incompetent and was finally removed from his post and sent back to Spain in chains. He was quickly released in Spain, but he didn't get any official position. It is rumored that he died of poverty, which is groundless. He died quite rich.
Obviously, Columbus's first voyage had a revolutionary impact on European history, even greater than that on the American continent. 1492 is the year that every student knows. But if Columbus ranks so high in this book, there are likely to be several objections.
One objection is that Columbus was not the first European to discover the New World. Hundreds of years ago, Christopher Erickson, a pirate water Grenade, came to the United States. It seems that several other Europeans crossed the Atlantic during the pirate sailors and Columbus. But historically, Ralph Eriksson is a relatively insignificant figure. The news about his discovery has never been widely circulated, nor has it caused any major changes in Europe and America. But the news of Columbus' discovery of the New World soon spread all over Europe. Within a few years after his return, many people went to explore the new continent, and the activities of conquering and colonizing new territories began, which were the direct results of his discovery.
Like some other characters in this book, Columbus's main harm is that even without him, others will make his discoveries. By the fifteenth century, Europe has become a land full of people's hearts: trade and commerce are developing everywhere, and exploration activities are inevitable. In fact, long before Columbus, the Portuguese had been actively looking for a new road to the Indies.
It seems that sooner or later, Europeans will find that America is indeed possible, and it may not even last long. But if 1492 was not Columbus's expedition, but 15 10, the French or the British first discovered America, then the subsequent development would be very different.
The third possible objection is that many Europeans in the15th century knew that the earth was round before Columbus sailed. This theory was put forward by Greek philosophers many centuries ago and strongly endorsed by Aristotle, so it will be recognized by educated Europeans in the14th century. But Columbus is not famous for proving that the earth is round (in fact, he didn't really succeed in this respect), but for discovering the new continent. Neither Europeans nor Aristotle in the fifteenth century knew the existence of the American continent.
Columbus's character was not completely loved by the world. He is particularly greedy. In fact, the main reason why he can't persuade Isabella to provide him with funds at present is that he is insatiable and always haggles. Moreover, his cruelty to Indians was unimaginable. However, it may be unfair to judge him by today's moral standards. But this is not the noblest character book in history, but the most influential character book in history. According to this standard, Columbus should be among the best.
Zheng He (A.D. 137 1- 1435), a native of Kunyang, Yunnan (now Jinning County, Kunming City), was born in Hongwu for four years (A.D. 137 1). Because of his belief in Islam, Zheng He began to learn the teachings and canon of Islam when he was young. Zheng He's father and grandfather have both been to Mecca, the holy place of Islam, and they are familiar with distant foreign countries and overseas situations. From the conversation between his father and grandfather, young Zheng He has always been full of strong curiosity about the outside world. His father's upright, generous and unrequited character left an indelible memory in Zheng He's mind. After the Yuan Dynasty unified Yunnan War in A.D. 1382, Zheng He was taken to Nanjing, castrated, became a eunuch, assigned to Beiping, served in the Yanwangfu, and became Judy's valet. During his stay in the Prince's Mansion, Zheng He won the trust of the Prince of Yan with his diligence, cleverness, extraordinary intelligence and diligence, and was selected as a personal bodyguard by Judy. At this time, Zheng He's own excellent glorious tradition and leadership began to appear gradually. During the four-year "Battle of Jingnan", Zheng He and Judy fought side by side, fought in the south and fought in the north, and made many contributions, becoming one of the main heroes for Judy to seize power and ascend to the throne. After the Ming Emperor Judy, most of the military commanders and civil servants who followed him for many years were promoted and reused. Among them, Zheng He, the eunuch, was named "Zheng" by Judy and was promoted to be the eunuch in charge of internal officials. Because Zheng He is also known as the "three treasures", people also call him the "three treasures eunuch". At that time, most countries along the Indian Ocean believed in Islam, while many countries in South Asia believed in Buddhism. Because Zheng He believed in Islam, knew how to sail, and served as a eunuch in the palace, Ming Chengzu chose him as an ambassador to lead the fleet to sea. Zheng He's voyage to the West was nearly a hundred years earlier than that of other countries. Zheng He's fleet has more than 200 ships, including a treasure ship carrying more than 1000 tons and a fleet of more than 20,000 people. Zheng He was a great navigator.
Christopher and Columbus (145l- 1506) are famous Spanish navigators and pioneers of great geographical discoveries. When Columbus was young, he was a believer in garden theory. He worshipped Kyle Poirot, who had been in prison in Genoa, and determined to become a navigator. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean four times from 1492 to 1502 and discovered the American continent, so he became a famous navigator in history. Columbus was an Italian, and he liked sailing adventures since he was a child. He has read The Travels of Marco Polo and wants to go to India and China very much. At that time, the theory of the earth circle was very popular, and Columbus also believed it. He successively asked the kings of Portugal, Spain, Britain, France and other countries for financial assistance to realize his plan of sailing westward to the eastern countries, but all of them were rejected. On the one hand, the theory of "Earth Circle" is not perfect, so many people don't believe it and regard Columbus as a charlatan. On one occasion, at a special review committee on the Columbus Plan in Spain, a member asked Columbus: Even if the earth is round, sailing to the west can reach the east and return to the port of departure, then a voyage must climb from below the earth. How does a sailboat climb up? On this issue, the eloquent Columbus was speechless. On the other hand, at that time, besides traditional silk, porcelain, tea, spices and gold were the most important things that western countries sought for the material wealth of the East. Among them, spices are essential materials for daily life and cooking in Europe, which are in great demand and are not produced locally. At that time, these commodities were mainly transported by traditional land-sea combined transport routes. The vested interests of these commodities also strongly opposed Columbus's plan to open up new routes. Columbus lobbied for his plan for more than ten years. It was not until 1492 that the Queen of Spain had a vision for heroes. She persuaded the king and even gave her private money to help Columbus, so that Columbus's plan could be implemented.
1on August 3rd, 492, Columbus was sent by the king of Spain, took the credentials of Indian monarch and emperor China, and led three sailboats with several hundred tons, set out from John Young in Barros, Spain, and left the Atlantic Ocean for the west. After 70 days and nights of hard sailing, land was finally found in the early morning of 1492+00+02. Columbus thought he had arrived in India. Later, I learned that the land Columbus landed on belonged to the Bahamas in the Balebi Sea in Central America, and he named it San Salvador at that time. On March 1493, Columbus returned to Spain. After that, he sailed west three times and landed on many coasts of America. Until 1506 died, he thought he had arrived in India. Later, an Italian scholar named Amerigo, after more investigations, realized that these places Columbus arrived in were not India, but a new continent that was unknown before. Columbus discovered the new continent. However, this continent is named after the person who proved that it is a new continent: America. Later, there were many whispers about who first discovered America. The conclusion that Columbus discovered the New World is beyond doubt. This is because people in Europe and even the whole old Asian-African continent really didn't know there was this continent on the other side of the Atlantic. As for who arrived in America first, that is another question, because Native Americans themselves immigrated from Asia in ancient times. It is also possible for China and Oceania to sail to America, but none of these can change the fact that Columbus discovered the new continent. Columbus's voyage was the beginning of the era of great navigation. The opening of the new route has changed the course of world history. It shifted the route of overseas trade from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic coast. From then on, the West finally walked out of the darkness of the Middle Ages and began to rise in the world with an irresistible trend, and in the following centuries, it achieved maritime hegemony. A brand-new industrial civilization has become the mainstream of world economic development.