1800 BC Basic measuring of the depths is done in Egypt.
1500 BC Middle Eastern people explored the Indian Ocean
600 BCPhoenicians developed sea routes around the entire Mediterranean and into theRed Sea and theIndian Ocean. Going aroundAfrica they reachedEngland by sailing along the western European coast. Although they understoodcelestial navigation, they probably stayed within sight of land whenever possible.
500-200 BC Greeks developed trade routes in the Mediterranean using the length of the day (corrected for the time of the year) to estimatelatitude.
450 BCHerodotus produces a map of the Mediterranean region.
325 BCPytheas, a Greekastronomer andgeographer, sailed north out of the Mediterranean, reaching England and possibly even Iceland and Norway. He also developed the use of sightings on theNorth Star to determine latitude.
150 ADPtolemy produces a map of the Roman world, including lines oflatitude andlongitude, the continents ofAsia, Europe, and Africa and the surrounding oceans.
1002Leif Erikson reaches North America nearly 500 years before Columbus.[2]
1405-1433 Chinese sendseven voyages to extend Chinese influence and impress their neighbor states. These expensive voyages are ended after a short time. SeeZheng He (1371–1433).
1698-1700Edmund Halley made probably the first primarily scientific voyage to study the variation of themagnetic compass, sailing as far as 52 deg S. in theAtlantic Ocean. On a previous expedition toSt. Helena, he made an important contribution to knowledge of the trade winds.
1768-1780James Cook explores the southern parts of the oceans looking for the southern continent. He was the first to use amarine chronometer to determine longitude.
1872-1876H.M.S. Challenger travels around the world on a scientific mission taking sediment samples, water samples, soundings, and collecting many biological specimens.
1960Bathyscaphe Trieste dives to what was believed to be the deepest point in theMariana Trench. A depth of 10,915 meters was observed.
The renaissance of ocean exploration occurred in the 20th century, whenhuman-powered exploration became increasingly popular. Via this new medium, pioneering has once again become the goal ofocean explorers.[3]
