Swiss Family Robinson

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Sep 25, 1513

Vasco Nunez de Balboa, crossed the Isthmus of Darien and sighted the pacific.

Ferdinand Magellan

Feb 13, 1521

Ferdinand Magellan was the first European to cross the pacific

Jorge de Meneses

Nov 27, 1526

Jorge de Meneses visited western new guinea, which he called the Ilhas de Papuas

Francis Drake

Dec 13, 1578

Francis Drake crossed to Palau before returning to Britain, making the first british circumnavigation.

William Dampier

Jan 3, 1688

British buccaneers, including william dampier, operate in southeast pacific.

Enlightenment

Jan 1, 1700

The enlightenment provoked an interest in science and the natural world

Robinson Crusoe

Apr 25, 1719

Robinson Crusoe was published

Jonathon Swift

Oct 28, 1726

Jonathon Swift`s novel Gulliver`sTravels published in London partly based on Dampier`s journals and events in the pacific.

Samuel Wallis

Aug 16, 1767

Samuel Wallis is the first man to visit Tahiti.

James Cook

Apr 13, 1769

James cook arrived at Tahiti to observe the Transit of Venus