What are the historical roots of ocean exploration?

Brandon Barlow

Class B

Oceanography

So far in Oceanography we have learned many things. These past few weeks we have been learning about historical roots of Ocean exploration. One thing that the class did was we had to do a project on a historical person. The person that i had to do research on was John Harrison. While doing research  i have learned that John Harrsion created the chronometer, which is an instrument for measuring time, especially one designed to keep accurate time in spite of motion or variations in temperature, humidity, and air pressure. Chronometers were first developed for marine navigation, being used in conjunction with astronomical observation to determine longitude. Another thing that i have learned in Oceanography is how to locate the North Star. The North Star lies at the end of the handle of the Little Dipper and is not the brightest star in the sky. The North Star actually has medium brightness. One other thing that we have learned this past week is how to use compasses. When you use a compass you have to make sure it is on a flat surface and the arows are settled in one direction, you then proceed in the direction you want to go the compass was invented in about 206 BC by the Chinese, Han Dynasty. It was a magnetic compass used for maritime navigation.

People such as John Harrison took a huge impact back then on there discoveries. Another man that we learned about was Christopher Colombus who  was an Italian explorer who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, hoping to find a route to India in order to trade for spices. He made a total of four trips to the Caribbean and South America during the years 1492-1504. Another thing we learned about was the earliest recorded sea voyage, which was the Egyptians, at about 3200 BC. according to the Bible Noah's Ark was before the Egyptians first sea voyage, but there is no official record of it happening.