NR 150 1st Edition Lecture 2 Outline of Last Lecture I Introduction to resource use II Types of marine resources a Physical b Marine Energy c Biological d Non extractive Outline of Current Lecture III Marine Science began as a result of voyaging for trade and goods IV Ancient Mediterranean cultures V Polynesian explorers VI Chinese explorers Current Lecture I II Marine Science began as a result of voyaging for trade and goods a Travelling over water was important to many civilizations b The word for ocean was originally defined from oceanus the Latin root of the word okeanos originally named by the early Greek seafarers Ancient Mediterranean cultures a Used the Strait of Gibraltar as a mode of transportation for trading goods b Recorded information about locations and landmarks and currents c Thought to be the first cartographers map makers d Records of trading were kept at the Library of Alexandria i Located in Egypt founded in the third center BC ii The library also stored information on every area of human endeavor iii Eratosthenes of Cyrene 1 The chief librarian at Alexandra 2 First person to calculate the circumference of the world was only 10 off from modern calculations a Pythagoras had realized the Earth was spherical but Eratosthenes was the first to estimate its true size 3 Introduced the system of latitude and longitude based on known cities at the time a Low latitudes are near the equator high latitudes are near the North and South Poles These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute b Longitudinal lines called meridians i Prime Meridian is zero goes through Greenwich England III IV Polynesian explorers a Seafarers colonized distant islands located in the Pacific Ocean b Ancestors of the Polynesians began colonizing islands off the coast of Asia around 20000 years ago i Used birds stars trade wind patterns etc to guide their travels c Mid Pacific Islands like the Marshall Islands were colonized about 2500 years ago d Smaller most remote Pacific Islands were colonized around 600 years ago i Easter Island 1 15 miles long and 8 miles wide it would have been very difficult to find without modern technology due to small size 2 Had rich soil and many trees which were used by inhabitants to build boats a Inhabitants built too many boats and eventually had no trees left to make boats to leave the island b The stranded clans began fueding over limited resources by the time European explorers reached the island there were few indigenous inhabitants left i The few left were killed off by European diseases to which they had never been exposed to ii Hawaii 1 Most recently explored Pacific Island about 450 600 CE 2 Polynesians had to cross the equator in order to reach it had to travel through doldrums areas of the ocean where weather was unpredictable either no wind which stranded ships or extreme storms Chinese explorers a Undertook organized voyages of discovery b Chinese navigators originally set out in the 1400s using more advanced technology for the time i Water tight compartments the central rudder sails on multiple masts ii Their ships were much larger than those in the past and functioned on the rough oceans much better c Voyages had the intention of displaying Chinese wealth and power by carrying their treasure on their ships d Zheng He was the leader of a treasure ship fleet i Was a eunuch castrated man working for the emperor and at the time it was thought eunuchs were more loyal to the emperor because they had no familial ties and no chance to change the lines of succession e Ships were capable of staying at sea for up to four months i Covered at least 8000 km 5000 mi without needing to stop for provisions ii Distilled fresh water from the ocean iii Grew vegetables on board f For some unexplainable reason it became a crime to go to sea from China in a multi masted ship after 1433 g From all of these voyages Chinese technology had filtered into the West and made later discoveries possible