Great geographical discoveries made it possible to create a modern map of the world. Columbus, Vespucci, Magellan, Vasco da Gama, Cook and many others were pioneers. 400 years of adventure in the distant oceans to draw the features of the "face" of planet Earth.
How dare people go to the ocean in those days when they still believed in demons and the sea of hell, when their only maps were maps created in antiquity? How much they had to go through to create a picture of the world as it is now.
Way east
The first map of the hemispheres of Ptolemy, dates from the II century. ad. But only in the Middle Ages did further movement begin. Marco Polo’s journey to Asia opened up new wealth for Europe. Porcelain, precious stones, silk and most importantly - spices. For this luxury, the aristocracy was ready to pay in gold. But the Europeans to the east, where the Arabs ruled, the path was closed. To do without intermediaries, Portugal at the beginning of the XV century. began to look for an alternative sea route. And the Portuguese first circled Africa.
Ptolemy's worldview crashed. The world map has gained new features. Spain, the main rival of Portugal, did not compete for dominance on the newly opened routes, but took advantage of the fact that the land was round and found a different path. Based on incredible assumptions, the Spaniards went west to reach Asia.
Unexpected new world
Looking at the first Behemheim globe in the world, one can see the entire depth of ignorance of the first cartographers. America and the Pacific are not known. In the summer of 1492, caravels under the command of Christopher Columbus depart from Spain. Heading west. The calculation of longitude was still a mystery. The sailors had to rely on intuition, experience, providence and luck. And now, on October 12, 1492, Columbus discovers a land whose inhabitants, he considers Indians. He is convinced that he reached the islands foreshadowing the Asian continent. Once again, the world map is enriched with new outlines.
The news in Europe thundered like a clap of thunder. Amerigo Vespucci was one of those merchants who, without hesitation, was ready to go in search of adventure. Equipped with Portuguese money, he travels west to explore the route south of Columbus' paths. But instead of going to Asia, a new light had to be put on the world map. A whole gigantic continent. The pope divides the globe in half with his decree. Everything to the left of the islands discovered by Columbus belongs to Spain, everything to the right of this line is Portugal.
