Who according to legend. Raking in Zagreb
Humanity gradually mastered the surface Globe. This cost him great sacrifices, but neither harsh nature, neither warlike tribes nor diseases could reverse this process.
The Great Silk Road
Until the 2nd century BC. the path from Europe to Asia ended at the spurs of the Tien Shan, which hid the civilization of China. The visit of Chinese Ambassador Zhang Qian to Central Asia, amazed at the unprecedented wealth of these lands in his country.
Gradually, small sections of trade roads were united into a gigantic highway with a length of 12 thousand kilometers, connecting East and West. However, the Great Silk Road should not be considered as a single route.
When approaching Dunhua, a city on the outskirts of the Great Wall of China, the path branched, bordering the Taklamakan Desert on the north and south. The northern road went to the Ili River valley, and the southern road led to Bactria (northern Afghanistan). Here the Southern Road again diverged into two directions: one went to India, the other to the West - to Iraq and Syria.
The Great Silk Road is a journey not of people, but of goods, which passed through many hands before reaching the buyer. Silk, due to its lightness, high cost and great demand, was an ideal product for long-distance transportation. At the final destination of the Silk Road - Rome - the price of this fabric was three times higher than the cost of gold.
Empires came and went, establishing their control over the transit of rich caravans, but the arteries of the Great Silk Road continued to feed the markets of the largest continent.
In the middle of the 14th century, along with goods along the Great silk road death began to flow. An epidemic of bubonic plague from the depths of the Gobi, littering the road with corpses, reached Europe along caravan routes.
The Cambridge Encyclopedia brings a terrible conclusion: about 60 million people or 25% of the world's population - such is the number of victims of the deadly epidemic, such is the price of trade relations between Europe and Asia.
Greenland
The most remarkable thing in this story is that the largest island on the planet was discovered by a fugitive criminal - Eirik, nicknamed Red. The Norwegian Viking got tired of his Icelandic exile and in 982 he and his fellow tribesmen sailed to the west. Eirik named the discovered land Greenland (“Green Country”), not because of the riot of vegetation: he believed that if the island had good name, then people will flock there.
Eirik managed to persuade some of the Icelanders to move to the “Green Country”. In 985, a flotilla of 25 ships set off for the Greenland coast. Whole families sailed, with belongings, utensils and even livestock.
This was the triumph of Red Eirik: from a hunted outcast, he turned into the owner of vast domains.
The first settlers of Greenland discovered abandoned dwellings on its eastern coast. Most likely, they belonged to the indigenous population of the island - the ancestors of modern Inuit, who, for unknown reasons, left their habitats.
Setting up life was not easy for the Vikings. In order to have the necessary minimum, they had to enter into trade relations with Europe: grain and Construction Materials, and in return they sent whalebone and skins of sea animals.
However, by the end of the 14th century, the colonies fell into decline - almost their entire population died out. Perhaps the reason for this was Small glacial period, which created unbearable living conditions on the island.
Greenland eventually became a springboard for the further advance of the Vikings to the west. After the death of Eirik the Red, his sons dared to sail to the ends of the Earth and reached the shores of America.
The last written evidence of Greenlandic Vikings dates back to 1408. It tells about a wedding in the Khvalsi Church. The ruins of this church have survived to this day as a monument to the dedication of the first European conquerors of the impregnable North.
West coast of Africa
Since the beginning of the 15th century, Portuguese sailors intensified their research west coast Africa. At the height of the Reconquista, the kings of Portugal needed new sources of fame and wealth.
But there was another reason - Turkish dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean, which blocked the traditional merchant routes to Asia.
To understand the complexity and significance of the expeditions undertaken by the Portuguese along the West African coast, it should be remembered that not a single European had yet crossed the equator.
Moreover, Europe continued to live by the ideas of Ptolemaic geography, according to which the inhabited world ended with an ocean washing the western outskirts of Africa. In 1482, Diogo Can crossed the equator and reached the mouth of the Congo River, simultaneously refuting Ptolemy's hypothesis about the impassability of the tropics.
On the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, Portuguese sailors found what they had gone so far for. long journey- large deposits of gold. The news of the gold found spread quickly and Spanish, British, and Dutch businessmen were already sailing here to organize mines in the hope of making fabulous profits.
In 1442, black men and women were brought to Lisbon. This was the delivery of the first shipment of African slaves. From now on, “black gold” becomes the most popular product, first on the European and later on the American market.
At the same time, in the Cape Verde Islands (Cape Verde), a new phenomenon for humanity arises - the mixing of Europeans and Africans. This is how the Creoles appeared. According to historians, this is caused by a banal reason - the almost complete absence of white women in the Portuguese colonies.
America
Instead of answering many questions, the discovery of America seems to have puzzled the Europeans even more: the inhabited world did not begin here, but continued further to the West - into the frightening unknown. However, the pioneers too confidently began to explore the alien environment, irrevocably disrupting the natural and cultural balance of both continents.
Thanks to the "Columbus Exchange" (Alfred Crosby's term), animals, crops, technologies and diseases migrated to a much larger volume in westward, radically changing the appearance of the New World. One disease, malaria, was destined to affect the geopolitical map of North America.
Malaria was brought to the New World along with African slaves, but since the latter had immunity to the infection, it was mainly Europeans who died from the disease. The distribution zone of disease carriers – malaria mosquitoes – is the humid tropics. She eventually formed a conditional geographic line, above which mosquitoes did not breed.
To the south of this line were slave states, and to the north were slave-free territories, where European settlers were mainly sent. Today, this line practically coincides with the so-called Mason-Dixon line, which separates the state of Pennsylvania from the states of West Virginia and Maryland located to the south.
The development of vast territories of the New World allowed Europe to cope with the problem of overpopulation that threatened it in the future. However, the expansion of Europeans on both American continents led to the largest humanitarian and demographic catastrophe in human history.
The law on the removal of Indians to reservations, which appeared in the United States in 1867, was only a formal step towards the preservation of the aborigines. The Indians were often sent to places completely unsuitable for farming. A number of Native American organizations claim that from 1500 to 1900 indigenous people America decreased from 15 million to 237 thousand people.
Antarctica
Antarctica, like an alluring and at the same time repulsive forbidden fruit, slowly and gradually allowed sailors to approach it. Dirk Geeritz reaches 64° S in 1559. sh., James Cook in 1773 – 67°5′ S. w. Finding himself lost among icebergs near Tierra del Fuego, English navigator declares that there is no Southern Continent.
For almost half a century, Cook's skepticism discouraged the search for a sixth continent. But in 1820, Bellingshausen and Lazarev managed to reach 69°21′ S. w. – now the much-cherished land is within cannon-shot distance. Only the Norwegian expedition of Karsten Borchgrevink in 1895 made the first recorded landing on the Southern Continent.
According to the Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959, only 7 states claim certain sectors of the continent - Great Britain, Norway, France, Chile, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. But everyone’s territorial appetites are different.
If France claims a narrow strip of land - Adélie Land, occupying 432,000 km², then Australia is counting on almost half the area of Antarctica. At the same time, Chile, New Zealand, Great Britain and Argentina dispute almost the same territory.
Each country is trying to look to the future of the Southern continent. The British, for example, seriously intend to develop the Antarctic shelf, which is rich in hydrocarbons. It is possible that Antarctica may be populated in the near future. Already today, due to global warming, tundra is beginning to form on the land areas farthest from the pole, and in 100 years scientists predict the appearance of trees here.
In Western Europe and Russian pre-revolutionary literature under the era of V. g. o. usually refers to a hundred-year (approx.) period - from mid. 15 to midday 16th centuries, center the moments of which were: the discovery of the tropics. America by H. Columbus, discovery of continuous sea. ways from the West Europe around South. Africa to India Vasco da Gama, the first expedition around the world by F. Magellan, proved the existence of a single World Ocean, occupying most of the Earth's surface. In Sov. historical-geographical literature under the era of V. g. o. refers to a two-hundred-year (approx.) period - from mid. 15 to midday 17th centuries, since only in the 1st half. 17th century Australia was discovered, sowing. and north-east coast of Asia and it is practically proven that Asia is nowhere connected to America.
Mor. and land expeditions that carried out military warfare were organized by Portugal, Spain (which played a leading role in military warfare in the 15th and 16th centuries), England, France, and Russia. state, Holland. The general reasons for sending expeditions were: the growth of commodity production in European countries, a shortage in Europe precious metals and the associated search for new lands where they hoped to find gold and silver, gems and pearls, spices and ivory (in the tropics), valuable furs and walrus tusks (in North America and North Asia); searching for new trades. ways from the West. Europe to Africa, India, East. Asia - the desire of Western-European. merchants get rid of bargaining. intermediaries and establish direct communication with Asian countries- suppliers of valuable goods (direct trade with the countries of Asia and Africa was in the hands of Arab, Indian, Malay and Chinese merchants; Turkish conquests in Western Asia and the Balkan Peninsula in the 15th century almost completely closed the trade route to the East through M. Asia and Syria). V. g. o. became possible thanks to advances in science and technology: the creation of sailing ships that were reliable enough for ocean navigation, the improvement of the compass and sea charts, etc.; a major role was played by the increasingly established idea of the spherical shape of the Earth (the idea of the possibility of a western sea route to India through the Atlantic Ocean was also associated with it). Important for geogr. European discoveries in Asia and Africa had success in the field of geography. knowledge and development of navigation among the Asian peoples themselves.
V. g. o. 15-17 centuries were world-historical events. meanings. The contours of the inhabited continents were established (except for the northern and northwestern coasts of America and the eastern coasts of Australia), and the most of the earth's surface (however, many inland regions of America, central Africa and all of inland Australia still remain unknown). Thanks to the opening of new trades. routes and new countries, trade acquired a global character, there was a gigantic increase in the goods in circulation - this accelerated the process of the decomposition of feudalism and the emergence of capitalism. relations in the West Europe. The colonial system, which arose after the Great Patriotic War, was one of the levers of the so-called process. initial accumulation; this was facilitated by the so-called "price revolution" In this era of the West. Africa turned into a reserved hunting ground for slaves.
Table. The most important geographical discoveries ser. 15 - mid. 17th centuries
The Europeans captured vast territories. all in. and Yuzh. America, which was associated with the massive, and in the Antilles, total extermination of the indigenous population. Huge colonial possessions arose in the New World: the Spanish group. Viceroyalties, Portugal. Brazil, English group settler colonies, French. Canada. A chain of Europeans was organized. strongholds on the shores and islands of Africa, South, South-East. and Vost. Asia; The colonial enslavement of many Asian countries began. Great importance for plural European countries had displacement as a result of V. g.o. economic center life and bargaining. ways from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. approx., which contributed to the decline of some Europeans. countries (Italy, partly Germany and the Danube countries) and economic. the rise of others (the Netherlands and England).
Read more about geogr. discoveries by department continents, see articles Australia, Asia, Africa, North America, South America.
Lit.: Atlas of the history of geographical discoveries and research, M., 1959; Baker J., History of Geographical Discovery and Exploration, trans. from English, M, 1950; Bern J., History of Great Travels, trans. from French, vol. 1, L., 1958; Magidovich I.P., History of discovery and research of the North. America, M. 1962; by him, Essays on the history of geographical discoveries, M., 1957; Morison S. E., Christopher Columbus, Navigator, trans. from English, M., 1958; The Voyage of Christopher Columbus. Diaries. Letters. Documents, (translated from Spanish), M., 1956; Hart G., The Sea Route to India, (translated from English), M., 1954; Pigafetta A., The Voyage of Magellan, trans. from Italian, M., 1950; Lebedev D. M., Geography in Russia XVII century (pre-Petrine era), M.-L., 1949; by him, Essays on the history of geography in Russia in the 15th and 16th centuries, M., 1956; Discoveries of Russian explorers and polar sailors of the 17th century in northeast Asia. Sat. Doc-tov, M., 1951; Russian sailors in the Arctic and Pacific oceans. Sat. Doc-tov, L.-M., 1952; Sokh E. G., A reference guide to the literature of travel including voyages, geographical descriptions, adventures, shipwrecks and expeditions, v. 1-2, Washington, 1935-38.
I. P. Magidovich. Moscow.
Great geographical discoveries 
Soviet historical encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. Ed. E. M. Zhukova. 1973-1982 .
See what "GREAT GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERIES" are. in other dictionaries:
Great geographical discoveries- GREAT GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERIES, designation of a complex of the most significant discoveries on land and sea, made during almost the entire written history humanity. Traditionally, great geographical discoveries are identified only with discoveries... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
A set of the most significant discoveries on land and sea made during almost the entire recorded history of mankind. Traditionally, great geographical discoveries are identified only with discoveries in the so-called. the era of great geographical discoveries... ... Big encyclopedic Dictionary
great geographical discoveries- Epoch biggest discoveries new lands discovered by European travelers from the mid-15th to the mid-17th centuries... Dictionary of Geography
Planisphere of Cantino (1502), the oldest surviving Portuguese navigational chart, showing the results of the expeditions of Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus and other explorers. It also depicts the meridian, section ... Wikipedia
A set of the most significant discoveries on land and sea, made during almost the entire written history of mankind. Traditionally, the Great Geographical Discoveries are identified only with discoveries during the so-called era of the Great Geographical... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
A set of the most important geographical discoveries made by European travelers in the 15th–17th centuries. Development of trade and industry in countries Western Europe, the formation of capitalist relations was caused in the 15th century. 16th century desire for... ... Geographical encyclopedia
A conventional term accepted in literature (mainly historical) to designate the largest geographical discoveries made by European travelers in the mid-15th–mid-17th centuries. (V foreign literature usually only... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
Great geographical discoveries- the largest geographical discoveries made by European travelers in the mid-13th and mid-17th centuries. in search of new lands, new trade routes from Europe to India and East Asia, to establish direct connections with Asian countries () ... Encyclopedic Dictionary " The World History»
Great geographical discoveries- opening of Europe. travelers ser. XV ser. XVII century The most important of them: the discovery of America by Columbus in 1492, the discovery of the sea route from Europe to India by Vasco da Gama in 1497-1499, the first circumnavigation Magellan in 1519-1522,... ... The medieval world in terms, names and titles
Great geographical discoveries- The process of the decomposition of feudalism and the emergence of capitalist relations in Europe was accelerated by the opening of new trade routes and new countries in the 15th-16th centuries, which marked the beginning of the colonial exploitation of the peoples of Africa, Asia and America. By the 16th century V… … The World History. Encyclopedia
The consciousness of people does not make a serious distinction between traditions and legends. Besides, modern science it is also not always possible to confidently distinguish them from each other. Just like legend, legend is a genre oral creativity. The word “tradition” quite accurately reflects the essence of this work. This is a story historical content, which is passed on from mouth to mouth, passes from generation to generation. A legend is a story religious nature, which is inextricably linked with historical events.
Up to XIX century Not everyone could read books, much less get an education. But every person wanted to know about their roots, culture and religion. Traditions and legends were replaced by common people historical literature talking about past events. But - this is not historical, but only captured bright moments individual events.
The Latin word for legend is “that which is to be read.” Initially, the legend was a story about the pious lives of saints. Then it changed to religious-didactic, instructive, and sometimes fantastic biographies historical and fictional, whose life and deeds bore generalized character traits of the people living in a given area. The most interesting thing is that all these wonderful stories were perceived by people as having happened in the past in reality, despite their fabulousness and fantastic nature.
Some legends are really very similar to fairy tales. The difference between them is that fairy tales are mostly made up, and the basis of the legend is real event, albeit described in a fairy tale form. They are taken much more seriously, as a real case from which it is necessary to draw a conclusion for one’s benefit.
For example, in the Middle Ages there were legends whose characters were cursed people. “The Legend of the Flying Dutchman” is perhaps the most of that time. There are many options for its narrative, but the essence is the same. Punished by God, the “Flying Dutchman” is forced to wander the seas forever, because... his captain cursed the Creator and contacted the Devil. Impressed by this legend, the navigators of that time claimed that they had actually seen this damned ship. Who knows what really happened there... Nevertheless, this legend “lives” in people’s memory to this day.
All events that take place in legends are described and assessed from the point of view of understanding folk tradition Christian standards of life. Along with people and animals, angels and demons, God and saints often descend to earth, taking on different guises. Unrecognized, they walk along it, rewarding the righteous and sinners.
Legends were formed thanks not only to oral folk art, but also written artifacts, for example, apocrypha. Also among written sources- some biblical texts.
The plots described in the legends are reflected not only in literary genres, but also in icon painting. The most a shining example serves as the icon “The Miracle of George on the Dragon,” which later became the basis for the creation of Muscovite Rus', and later the capital of Russia.
Legends and traditions are a genre that lives and develops. It is likely that modern understanding current events ordinary people gives birth and collects conclusions and stories, rumors and stories that will reach descendants as bright and instructive legends and tales.
How often today do we hear cliché words and expressions like “the birth of a legend” without thinking about what a legend is, strictly speaking. If we turn to the primary sources, the word legenda comes from Latin language. Thus, there is reason to believe that legends are the know-how of the Romans, but this statement is controversial. Its translation sounds like “reading”, “readable”. There are monographs about this type of traditional genre by the Russian scientist of the 19th century, the classic of linguistics R. O. Shor.
What does reading have to do with it if we're talking about about oral folklore? This question is quite natural. Indeed, legends were once intended in Rome for illiterate citizens; they contained historical and religious information that they could understand. From them people drew knowledge and moral principles.
Legends and traditions. What is the difference?
The meaning of the word “legend”, which was borrowed, is close to the meaning of the Old Russian word “tradition”. The latter comes from the words “to convey,” meaning by word of mouth. Tradition, as a rule, is tied to a specific area or people. The legend was originally distinguished by its assessment of events and people according to religious norms.
Christian legend traditionally includes an assessment of events according to Christian standards of life. It is more generalized than legend. What both narration and legend have in common is their common basis - certain historical events. The latter are usually dramatic.
Expanded understanding of the legend
Let's try to answer in more detail the question of what a legend is. A religious legend, as already noted, can take the form of a dramatic miracle (a medieval story about miracles performed by saints). However, there are legends in other religions: Buddhism, Judaism, Islam. The genre acquired a broader, non-ritual meaning. Its subject was the story of a hero, historical figure or event. Examples of such works will be discussed below.
Famous Legends
Let us remember, To do this, we present several of the most famous examples this genre. This is the legend about the journey of the hero Jason and his comrades on the ship Argo in search of the Golden Fleece to Colchis. This story has survived centuries and has survived to this day. The legend of Trojan War, its heroes and the drama of the confrontation. Even today, Achilles and Hector inspire creative people to numerous remakes of this legend in various types art.
An allegorical and instructive story is about the victory of the hero Theseus over the monster Minotaur, who lives in the palace labyrinth of the king of Crete. “The Aeneid” tells us about the courageous founder of Rome - the hero Aeneas, a Trojan who fled after the destruction of his native city-kingdom by the Greeks.
Three hundred Spartans who gave a heroic battle to the Persians in the Thermopylae Gorge also became a legend.
The legend of the “Flying Dutchman” is widely mentioned in literature. The captain brought a curse on his ship, swearing on his mother's bones that no one would come ashore, and condemned his soul to eternal wandering. A meeting with this ship appearing in the Indian Ocean promised death for the sailors and ruin for other ships.
The Middle Ages are decorated with knightly and heroic legends. Russian legends about the miraculous victory over the serpent and about heroes are also known.
The French are proud of their national hero- knight Roland.
In British folklore, there is a well-known legend about King Arthur, who united around himself
School program
IN educational institutions Legend is studied as a genre in literature. 5th grade according to the program includes both the most famous works, as well as local legends. This one is adapted to children's perception. Legend is a genre of literature related to small forms of folklore. It is capacious and quite concise, which is important for children's perception. In addition, this genre traditionally uses expressive concepts of love and hate, good and evil, and justice. It is somewhat like a fairy tale.
The genre of legend was developed in the 19th century by the titans of literature: L. N. Tolstoy, F. M. Dostoevsky, I. S. Turgenev. For example, Lev Nikolaevich wrote the essay “The Destruction of Hell and Its Restoration”, “The Christmas Legend”. Fyodor Mikhailovich wrote a monumental work - “The Legend of the Grand Inquisitor”. Ivan Sergeevich - “Eastern Legend”, “Legend of St. Julian the Merciful."
Conclusion
The genre under consideration is very dynamic. Therefore, speaking about what a legend is, it should be noted that today this genre is experiencing a rebirth. Society, faced with the unknown, the unknown, begins to create new legends. For example, about aliens abducting people, about a monster about a system of pyramids and other objects that prevent the destruction of civilization, about human heroes - our contemporaries. In addition, legends are born from literary works, if, of course, he wrote them a real master. For example, Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings was perceived by the British as an epic. The stories told in this trilogy have become legends.
By the way, the name Japhet (variations - Japhet or Iapet) means, on the one hand, “beauty”, on the other, “spread” or “expansion”. According to the Book of Genesis, even before global flood Japheth founded the city of Jaffa. After he escaped with his wife on Noah's Ark, they had seven sons - Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech and Tiras, who, in turn, also had sons over time. “From them the islands of nations were inhabited in their lands, each according to his language, according to his tribes, among his nations” (Genesis 10: 1-5).
The Tale of Bygone Years says: “After the destruction of the pillar and the division of the peoples, the sons of Shem took eastern countries, and the sons of Ham - southern countries The Japhethites took the west and northern countries. From these same 70 and 2 languages came the Slavic people, from the tribe of Japheth - the so-called Noriks, who are the Slavs. After a long time, the Slavs settled along the Danube, where the land of Hungary and Bulgaria is now... From those Slavs, the Slavs dispersed throughout the land and were called by their names from the places where they settled. So some, having come, sat down on the river in the name of Morava and were called Moravians, while others called themselves Czechs. And here are the same Slavs: white Croats, and Serbs, and Horutans. When the Volochs attacked the Danube Slavs, and settled among them, and oppressed them, these Slavs came and sat on the Vistula and were called Poles, and from those Poles came the Poles, other Poles - Lutichs, others - Mazovshans, others - Pomeranians, others - encouraged. Likewise, these Slavs came and settled along the Dnieper and were called Polyans, and others - Drevlyans, because they sat in the forests, and others sat between Pripyat and Dvina and were called Dregovichs, others sat along the Dvina and were called Polochans, after the river flowing into the Dvina , called Polota, from which the Polotsk people took their name. The same Slavs who settled near Lake Ilmen were called by their own name - Slavs, and built a city and called it Novgorod. And others sat along the Desna, and the Seim, and the Sula, and called themselves northerners. And so I went wild Slavic people, and after his name the letter was called Slavic.”
