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4500 B.C.
Ocean Diving Begins
Around this time, coastal cultures like those in Greece and China begin diving into the sea as a source of food gathering, commerce, and possibly even warfare. |
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4000 B.C.
First Sailing Vessels
The ancient Egyptians develop the first sailing vessels. These vessels were probably only used for sailing in the eastern Mediterranean and near the mouth of the Nile river. |
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600 B.C.
First Sea Routes
In search of tin and other resources, the ancient Phoenicians develop sea routes around the Mediterranean and into the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. They make it as far as Africa by 590 B.C. They also reach England by sailing along the western European coast. |
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360 B.C.
First Crude Diving Bell
The Greek philosopher Aristotle mentions the use of a sort of crude, air-supply diving bell. |
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325 B.C.
Voyage of Pytheas
A Greek astronomer and geographer named Pytheas sails north out of the Mediterranean Sea. During this voyage, he reaches the coast of England and may have even made it as far as Iceland and Norway. Pytheas uses sightings of the North Star to determine his latitude as he sails. This early explorer also discovers that the tides are related to the phases of the moon. |
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200 B.C.
Circumference of the Earth
The Greek astronomer Eratosthenes becomes the first person to determine the circumference of the Earth. He uses the angles of shadows and the distance between Alexandria and Syene to arrive at a value of 40,000 km. The actual circumference of the Earth is 40,032 km. |
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150 B.C.
Ptolemy's Map
The Greek astronomer and geographer Ptolemy produces a map of the ancient world that includes the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa as well as the surrounding oceans. This early map is one of the first known to include lines of latitude and longitude. Unfortunately this map would be lost to history but would be rediscovered in the years to come. |
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