Exploration And Discoveries Questions
During the Age of Exploration in the Pacific, the major discoveries made include the following:
1. The discovery of the Pacific Ocean: The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan is credited with being the first European to navigate and cross the Pacific Ocean in 1521.
2. The discovery of the Pacific Islands: European explorers, such as James Cook, discovered and mapped numerous Pacific islands, including Tahiti, Hawaii, Fiji, and Easter Island.
3. The discovery of Australia: Dutch explorers, including Willem Janszoon and Dirk Hartog, were the first Europeans to discover and map parts of Australia in the early 17th century.
4. The discovery of New Zealand: The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman is credited with being the first European to sight and map New Zealand in 1642.
5. The discovery of the Great Barrier Reef: Captain James Cook encountered and mapped the Great Barrier Reef during his exploration of the eastern coast of Australia in 1770.
6. The discovery of the Hawaiian Islands: Captain James Cook is also known for his discovery and mapping of the Hawaiian Islands in 1778.
These major discoveries during the Age of Exploration in the Pacific significantly expanded European knowledge of the region and paved the way for further exploration, colonization, and trade in the Pacific.