Discoverers and Explorers
by Edward R. Shaw
Publication date 2009-01-26
Usage Public DomainCreative Commons Licensepublicdomain
Topics librivox, audiobook, children, history, explorers, edward r. shaw
LibriVox recording of Discoverers and Explorers, by Edward R. Shaw. Read by Laura Caldwell.
Tales of the brave and daring explorers that ventured into the unknown "Sea of Darkness" where it was thought monsters and angry gods lived. They dared to sail near the equator which was thought to have such intense heat that it would boil the ocean water. It was also commonly thought at the time that the world was flat, and the ships would fall off the face of the earth. These men overcame these fears to explore and discover new lands. (Summary by Laura Caldwell)
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chapter 1 of discoverers and explorers this librivox recording is in the public domain discoverers and explorers by edward r shaw chapter 1 beliefs as to the world 400 years ago 400 years ago most of the people who lived in europe thought the earth was flat they knew only that the land was near them they knew the continent of europe a small part of asia and a strip along the northern shore of africa they thought this known land was surrounded by a vast body of water that was like a broad river sailors were afraid to venture far upon this water for they feared they would fall over the edge of the earth other seafaring men believed that if they should sail too far out upon this water their vessels would be lost in a fog or that they would suddenly begin to slide downhill and would never be able to return wind gods and storm gods too were supposed to dwell upon this mysterious sea men believed that these wind and storm gods would be very angry with anyone who dared to enter their domain and that in their wrath they would hurl the ships over the edge of the earth or keep them wandering round and round in a circle in the mist and fog it is no wonder that the name sea of darkness was given to this great body of water which we now know to be the atlantic ocean nor is it surprising that the sailors feared to venture far out upon it these sailors had no dread at all of a sea called the mediterranean upon which they made voyages without fear of danger this sea was named the mediterranean because it was supposed to be in the middle of the land that was then known on this body of water the sailors were very bold fighting robbing and plundering strangers and foes without any thought of fear they sailed through this sea eastward to constantinople their ships being loaded with metals woods and pitch these they traded for silks cashmeres dye woods spices perfumes precious stones ivory and pearls all of these things were brought by caravan from the far eastern countries as india china and japan to the cities on the east coast of the mediterranean this caravan journey was a very long and tiresome one worse than this the turks through whose country the caravans passed began to see how valuable this trade was and they sent bands of robbers to prevent the caravans from reaching the coast as time went on these land journeys grew more difficult and more dangerous until the traders saw that the day would soon come when they would be entirely cut off from traffic with india and the rich eastern countries the turks would secure all their profitable business so the men of that time tried to think of some other way of reaching the east among those who wished to find a short route to india was prince henry of portugal a bold navigator as well as a studious and thoughtful man he was desirous of securing the rich indian trade for his own country so he established a school for navigators at lisbon and gathered around him many men who wanted to study about the...
