SOME GREAT EXPLORERS

From time immemorial, man has to struggle for survival. He went from one place to another in search of fresh supplies of food materials. He migrated from troubled places to safer ones. Curiosity to explore new places and the ambition of establishing his dominance over other territories also prompted him to undertake journeys and voyages. He tried to explore new trade routes. The history of exploring new lands is as old as the history of man himself.
1- Marco Polo travelled from Italy in Europe to China. He returned to Italy by sea. During his return voyage he saw many wonderful and strange things unknown to the Europeans.
2- Vasco Da Gama a Portuguese sailor, for the first time, travelled from Portugal to India by sea. During his voyage he was helped by an Arab pilot.
3- Christopher Columbus was a great explorer. He believed that the world was round. So he could reach the east by sailing west. He sailed westwards from Spain with a view to reach China. But he crossed the Atlantic and reached the West Indies instead of China. In this way, he discovered the ‘New World’, i.e. America.
4- Ferdinand Magellansailed across the Atlantic and sailing down the coast of South America entered the Pacific Ocean. But on reaching Philippines’, he was killed in a battle with the islanders.
5- Sir Francis Drake, an Englishman, followed Magellan’s route and was the first man to circumnavigate the earth.