The first travelers-openers

Remains a testimony to that already in ancient times people crossed the ocean. It is true that time is not brought us reliable information about these great feats. After all, important maritime and trade routes were considered an important state secret, and carefully preserved. These rare images on a parchment-prototype for future cards - were destroyed, especially during wars. Approximately to 600 the year before Christ is one of the remarkable journeys of antiquity - the first sailing trip around Africa, which at that time was known as Libya. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who himself was a great explorer, wrote about the event this way: "We know that Libya is on all sides surrounded by sea, except where it borders with Asia. This discovery made the Pharaoh Necho. He fitted out a ship with the Phoenicians, who were supposed to get under sail until the Pillars of Hercules (Straits of Gibraltar) and back into the Mediterranean Sea. The Phoenicians came from the Red Sea into the Indian Ocean. When autumn came, they made a stop and landed on the shore. They sowed the seed and waited for the harvest. Harvested, drive again set sail. Meanwhile, passed for two years. It was only the third year they managed to swim to the Pillars of Hercules, to complete the journey and return home. They were told that during a voyage around Libya saw the sun on the right side, that maybe someone will seem plausible, but I believe it can not. " Something that could not believe the "father of history" Herodotus, for us now is the most reliable historical and geographical evidence. Because for seafarers who are south of the equator, the sun at noon will be in the north, and if they move to the west, they see him on the right. This means that, at their wooden ships, barely reaches 40 meters in length, with one sail and 40 oars, mariners, the Phoenicians were able to pass along the coast for over 37 000 kilometers in a totally unfamiliar waters! But the Phoenicians in ancient times were considered the best navigators. That is why the Pharaoh Necho and benefit from their experience and skill. They are actively engaged in maritime trade, and it helped them open a new earth - Madeira, Canaries and the Azores - and open new trade routes, in particular, to the tin mines of Britain.