Taking a quick glance through maritime history should reveal why mariners and sailors of ancient times were considered true sea heroes and discoverers. These adventurous persons operated with wooden vessels, which might be a huge challenge for present explorers. Humans were hardly well-aware of the wealth that planet earth comprised during ancient times. Their maps were rather inaccurate, yet, they boldly used them to navigate unchartered waters. Great captains were proven during this period of exploration, as they discovered new territories, which led to improved trade relations with neighbouring countries. The fact that they lacked the kind of technology available today makes their accomplishments even more astonishing. The following is a list of the most important sailors in history.
Christopher Columbus
It is challenging to speak of famous captains, and leave out Christopher Columbus, who discovered the America continent. He was born in Genoa Republic, which lies in Northwestern Italy. Columbus, a son of a poor tradesman who dabbled in local politics, was a coloniser, explorer, and navigator. He worked for a while with his father in business, but opted to be a seafarer when he grew up. Columbus journeyed four times as captain, with his first trip being the most significant, and life-altering. In the 1500s, he got arrested after a fall-out with the Spanish Crown, having been appointed Viceroy and Governor of West Indies after his initial exploration tour.
Vasco Da Gama
Vasco Da Gama is, arguably, hailed as the most fruitful explorer to have emerged from Europe. He discovered a route which directly linked Europe and India. The Portuguese adventurer was born in the 1460s, being son to the Sines minor civil governor. He set sail at first in 1497, with a four-ship fleet, and crew of over 170 individuals, travelling around Africa all the way to India, and then back. Vasco Da Gama passed through Mombasa and Malindi islands before arriving in Calcutta, India. Owing to harsh weather, nonetheless, over half of his crew was hit hard and died, with only two ships returning to Portugal. Even so, the expedition crew of Vasco Da Gama played key role in linking trade relations between Europe and India.
Leif Erikson
It is said that Leif Erikson had already discovered America nearly 500 years before. He was born in Iceland, and as per Viking tradition, was not reared by his parents. At age 24, Leif first became captain during his voyage to Norway. The explorer was so curious to continue with his expedition after his return that he soon set sail to lands of the west. While on this cruise, Erikson then discovered Canada, and the Newfoundland territory of L’Anse aux Meadows.
James Cook
James Cook was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer, and the first European to establish contact with the Eastern Coastline of Australia. He first joined British Merchant Navy as a teenager, and then Royal Navy in 1755. An expert map-maker, Cook committed over a decade of his entire life to exploring the pacific. As such, he became a very successful Pacific Ocean discoverer of the Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand, and Australia. The first voyage made by Cook was in 1768, sailing from England through Cape Horn, and concluding in 1769 in Tahiti.
Amerigo Vespucci
Believed to have inspired the name America, Vespucci was a notable Italian explorer, navigator, and cartographer. He was born in the Florence Republic in 1454, and raised by an uncle in Italy. Vespucci first sailed in 1497, embarking on an extensive journey that ended in 1498. He discovered the Amazon River mouth during his second exploration trip targeting mainland Africa. Also, Vespucci recorded remarkable accounts of his journey to Venezuela.