<A>
Egyptians (sailing): *
Egyptian commercial vessels plied the Nile, the eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean & the Red Seas & Indian ocean; see map below
<B>
long-range intercourse: *
The first major wave of European exploration began with the Portuguese discoveries of the Madeira & Azores in 1419 and 1427. After 1434 they began sailing down the coast of Africa; in 1498 Vasco da Gama established the sea route to India. Spanish discoveries date from the trans-Atlantic voyages of Columbus to the Americas (1492–1502) and the first circumnavigation of the globe by Magellan (1519-22).
see map
<C>
domestic funerary urns: *
Geometric terracotta Krater, 750–735 B.C.
Monumental grave markers were first introduced during the Geometric period: large vases, often decorated with funerary representations; here the main scene occupies the widest portion of the vase, showing the deceased on a bier surrounded by members of his household &, mourners; the dead man is on his side, covered in a checkered shroud; below is a procession of chariots and foot soldiers, possibly referring to the military exploits of the deceased or his the glorious ancestry SEE ILLUSTRATION BELOW
<D>
barrows (Classical): *
The burial mound or barrow on the plain of Marathon, that houses the ashes of 192 Athenians who fell during the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC.
<E>
dead kings (to sea): *
Sutton Hoo ship burial early 7th century AD; the original ship was large, 90 feet long pointed at either end with tall rising stem & stern posts, widening to 14 feet at amidships; decking, benches & mast were removed; in fore and aft sections, there were thorn-shaped oar-rests along the gunwales, with positions for 40 oarsmen. The rich artefacts & regalia found near the body indicate the occupant was a king, probably an East Anglian king.
<F>
cockleboats(to N America): *
Intrepid sailors, the Vikings went west without maps or compass, discovering & colonizing N America in the late 10th century AD; remains of Norse buildings were found in "Vinland", the northern tip of Newfoundland in 1960. SEE MAP BELOW
<G>
Egyptian (circumnavigation of Africa): *
Herodotus describes this voyage in his The Histories (440 BC). Sponsored by the Egyptian king Necho (610-595 BC), manned by a Phoenicians, a fleet, to sail around the Horn & then west, to return to Egypt & the Mediterranean by way of the Straits of Gibraltar. This fleet sailed from the Arabian Gulf into the southern ocean. The probably sailed close to the land & were able to put in & grow a crop. Having harvested their grain, they put to sea again. After 2 years they rounded the Pillars of Heracles in the course of the third returned to Egypt. In effect they sailed on a westerly course round the southern end of Libya. SEE MAP BELOW
<H>
Carthaginians (circumnavigation of Africa): *
Although not a full circumnavigation Hanno's feat was never equalled by the Greeks. Herodotus also speaks of the voyage, his report probably upon Hanno's original report.
<I>Greek (exploration & Pillars of Hercules, Isthmus of Suez): *
Possible rendering of Anaximander's world map
SEE MAP BELOW
