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Authors: Oberron , Rezpe , Rezpe & Oberron , sebas ,

Search and optimise

The lost yin/yang fundational pillar of modern times

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https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2019/2482543

Famous exploring civilisation (chat GPT)

Several civilizations throughout history were known for their exploration and expansion into new territories. Here are some of the most famous exploring civilizations:

1. Phoenicians (1500–300 BCE)

• The Phoenicians were a maritime civilization based in the eastern Mediterranean (modern-day Lebanon). They were expert sailors and traders, establishing colonies across the Mediterranean, including Carthage in North Africa. Phoenician explorers are believed to have ventured as far as the British Isles and possibly circumnavigated Africa.

2. Vikings (8th–11th century)

• The Vikings, seafaring Norsemen from Scandinavia, were renowned for their exploration and raids across Europe. Viking explorers such as Leif Erikson reached North America (Vinland) around 1000 CE, long before Columbus. They also sailed across the North Atlantic, settling in Iceland, Greenland, and parts of the British Isles.

3. Chinese (Ming Dynasty, especially under Zheng He, 15th century)

• During the Ming Dynasty, China embarked on extensive naval explorations led by Admiral Zheng He. Chinese explorers sailed across the Indian Ocean, visiting Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, establishing trade routes and diplomatic relations.

4. Polynesians (c. 1000 BCE–1500 CE)

• The Polynesians were master navigators who explored and settled vast areas of the Pacific Ocean. Using stars, ocean currents, and other natural indicators, they established settlements on islands such as Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island. Their long-distance voyages are some of the most remarkable feats of pre-modern navigation.

5. Arabs (7th–14th centuries)

• Arab explorers and traders, particularly during the Islamic Golden Age, played a significant role in exploration. They ventured into Africa, Southeast Asia, and China. Famous Arab explorers like Ibn Battuta traveled across much of the known world, including Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

6. Portuguese (15th–16th centuries)

• The Portuguese were pioneers of European maritime exploration during the Age of Discovery. Explorers like Prince Henry the Navigator, Bartolomeu Dias, and Vasco da Gama charted routes around Africa to India, establishing key trade routes and colonies.

7. Spanish (15th–16th centuries)

• The Spanish played a central role in global exploration during the Age of Discovery. Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, and Hernán Cortés were among the many Spanish explorers who opened up new lands in the Americas, circumnavigated the globe, and claimed vast territories for Spain.

8. Mongols (13th–14th centuries)

• Under the leadership of Genghis Khan and his successors, the Mongols established the largest contiguous land empire in history, stretching from Europe to Asia. While they were known more for conquest than peaceful exploration, the Mongols opened up trade routes (like the Silk Road) and facilitated cultural exchange between East and West.

9. Malian Empire (13th–16th centuries)

• The Malian Empire, especially under the rule of Mansa Musa, was a center of learning and trade in West Africa. While not typically known for overseas exploration, there are accounts, such as those of Mansa Abubakari II, that suggest the Malians may have launched expeditions across the Atlantic before European contact.

10. Romans (27 BCE–476 CE)

• The Roman Empire expanded its reach through exploration, trade, and conquest, stretching across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Roman explorers traveled as far as India and China through trade routes like the Silk Road, and Roman merchants reached distant parts of Africa.

These civilizations were driven by different motives—whether trade, conquest, religious spread, or scientific curiosity—and they left lasting impacts on global history.

Famous explorers

Several famous non-Western explorers made significant contributions to exploration and the expansion of knowledge about the world. Here are some of the most notable:

  1. Zheng He (1371–1433) – A Chinese admiral and diplomat during the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He led seven major voyages across the Indian Ocean, reaching as far as the east coast of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Southeast Asia. His expeditions greatly expanded China’s maritime influence and established extensive trade networks.

  2. Ibn Battuta (1304–1369) – A Moroccan scholar and traveler, Ibn Battuta journeyed across Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, India, Southeast Asia, and China over a period of nearly 30 years. His travels, documented in the Rihla (The Journey), provide a detailed account of the cultures and societies he encountered.

  3. Xuanzang (602–664) – A Chinese Buddhist monk and traveler, Xuanzang made a famous pilgrimage from China to India in search of sacred Buddhist texts. His 17-year journey through Central Asia and India was instrumental in spreading Buddhist knowledge and culture throughout Asia.

  4. Abu al-Hasan al-Masudi (c. 896–956) – Often called the “Herodotus of the Arabs,” al-Masudi was an Arab historian and geographer who traveled extensively in the Middle East, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. His works, including The Meadows of Gold, offered insights into the cultures, geography, and history of the regions he visited.

  5. Piri Reis (1465–1553) – An Ottoman admiral, geographer, and cartographer, Piri Reis is famous for his maps, especially his world map of 1513, which includes a remarkably accurate depiction of the Americas and Antarctica. His work contributed to Ottoman naval exploration and cartography.

  6. Mansa Abubakari II (fl. 14th century) – The Malian emperor is believed to have organized two large expeditions to explore the Atlantic Ocean, long before Columbus. Some legends suggest that his explorers may have reached the Americas, although this remains a subject of debate.

These explorers, originating from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, played crucial roles in the expansion of global knowledge and exploration.