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Greek Ptolemy Creates Map of Roman World
Implications and Details of Ptolemy's Map Ptolemy compiles the first map of the entirety of the Roman World. HIs map is more than simply illustrations of the land masses, it includes both latitudinal and longitudinal markings. -
Oct 12, 1492
"Discovery" of America
Columbus BiographyColumbus makes land on one of the many Bahamian Islands, and celebrates having reached India. Due to an inaccurate idea of the circumference of the Earth, Columbus naively believed that he could find an easier trade route to India by going West, and not having to endure the terrorous journey around Africa. Never did he imagine there would be a land mass in the way. Despite the accidental nature of his voyage, Columbus has been credited as the first European to "discover" America. -
Period: Sep 20, 1519 to Sep 6, 1522
First Circumnavigation
Biography of MagellanFerdinand Magellan credited with being the first man to circumnavigate the globe. He set out with five ships from Spain and his expedition returned three years later without their leader. While on their journey, the crew got involved in a local war in the Phillipines, during which Magellan was killed. His crew sailed on without him, mainly led by Juan Sebastián del Cano, and returned to Spain, accrediting Magellan with the first circumnavigation, because his expedition made it, even without him. -
First Oceanographic Book
Luigi Marsigli, Italian naturalist, compiles the first book entirely focused on the science of the sea. The book, the first devoted to only Oceanography, is titled Histoire Physique de la Mer. -
First Charting of Gulf Stream
Benjamin Franklin, founding father of America, creates the first map charting the existence of the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream runs from the Caribbean Islands up the East coast of the US and then across the Atlantic. Franklin discovered this after realizing during his time as deputy Postmaster for the colonies that ships took significantly longer coming from England than going to England. Once published, sailors consulted his map extensively before setting out to sea. -
Darwin
British scientist Charles Darwin returns from his trip aboard the HMS Beagle. His time spend on the journey leads to both the theory of atoll formation and eventually to the theory of evolution by natural selection, a theory that changes the face of modern biology. -
Forbes and the Azoic Zone
Sir Edward Forbes publishes his second book stating the existence of the "azoic zone". Forbes suggests that no sea life can survive below 600 meters, otherwise known as the azioc zone. -
Charles Wyville Thomson
Charles Wyville Thomson, while aboard the HMS Lightning and HMS Porcupine, completes the first successful measuring of deep sea temperatures and for the first time in human existence collects significant life from the depths of the oceans. In doing so he succeeds in disproving Forbes' azoic zone theory. -
Absence of a Northern Continent
Just a Little Background Info Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen builds the Fram with a reinforced hull to sail through sea ice. He takes his "icebreaker" up North and discovers the absence of a northern continent while also confirming the circulation pattern of the Arctic Ocean. -
Continental Drift
Fun and Informational Song German meteorologist Alfred Wegener first proposes his theory of Continental Drift, suggesting that the continents were floating and had "drifted" from their original locations to where they currently sat. He cited the similarity of the Eastern coast of South America and the Wester coast of Africa and the fact that they seemed to fit like puzzle pieces as a main piece of evidence for his theory. -
USS Nautilus
More Information The USS Nautilus becomes the first commissioned nuclear powered ship in the US Navy. The submarine subsequently shattered all submerged speed and distance records before its biggest accomplishment, the submerged crossing of the North Pole. On August 3rd, 1958 the Nautilus completed "Operation Sunshine", the first crossing of the North Pole by ship. -
First Operational Tidal Power Plant
The first modern tidal barrage is installed in St. Malo, France in 1965. The barrage has been functioning without missing a tide since its inception, bringing to light the advantages of tidal power generation. -
Sea Grant College and Programs Act
US Congress adopts the Sea Grant College and Programs Act to give nonmilitary funding for education and research in the field of oceanography. -
USS Albatross
The US Navy builds the USS Albatross, the first ever ship designed and built to conduct marine research. Armed with new equipment, the Albatross undertook numerous scientifc voyages. -
Alvin 2.0
The submarine Alvin, the most famous submarine in history, undergoes an upgrade. Operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Woods Hole, MA, Alvin has successfully completed numerous missions to the depths of the ocean, most famously the exploration of the wreckage of the RMS Titanic. Alvin is now being replaced by Alvin 2.0. -
First Transatlantic Crossing
The Viking Eric the Red is said to have completed the first transatlantic crossing, traveling from Iceland across the northern Atlantic ocean and discovering Baffin Island in what is now the Arctic region of Canada. -
First Settlement in the Americas
Leif Ericson, son of famed Viking explorer Eric the Red, voyages to the land West of Greenland, landing in what is now Newfoundland, Canada. Here he establishes the first known settlement in the Americas, naming it Vinland.
