Exploration

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Timeline: Exploration

Years: c. 600 BCE - 1958	Subject: Society and culture
Publisher: HistoryWorld	Online Publication Date: 2012
Current online version: 2012	eISBN: 9780191737374

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BCE CE

Year	Event
c. 600 BCE	Phoenicians sail round the Cape of Good Hope and bring back the surprising news that the sun was seen to the north of them Go to Phoenicians in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE 6th century BCE The Phoenicians Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Asia West Asia Lebanon and Syria Society
c. 310 BCE	Pytheas, a Greek explorer, sails up the west coast of Britain and finds beyond it a more northerly land which he calls Thule Go to Pytheas (c. 310–306 bc) in The Oxford Classical Dictionary (3 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 4th century BCE British Isles Europe Society Britain
138 BCE	Zhang Qian, a Chinese diplomat, begins a spell of twelve years as a captive of the nomadic horde, the Xiongnu Go to Qian, Zhang (d. 114 b.c.e.) in The Oxford Companion to World Exploration (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 2nd century BCE Asia East Asia China Society
c. 126 BCE	Zhang Qian reaches Bactria and is the first to bring news of western Asia back to China Go to Qian, Zhang (d. 114 b.c.e.) in The Oxford Companion to World Exploration (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 2nd century BCE Asia Central Asia East Asia China Society
c. 800	Seafarers colonize New Zealand, the last great island region in the Pacific to be reached by human beings Go to New Zealand in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 8th century 9th century Australia and Oceania New Zealand Society
c. 981	Eric Thorvaldsson, or Eric the Red, sails to Greenland when he is exiled from Iceland Go to Eric the Red (10th century)) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 10th century Society
c. 1000	Leif Ericsson claims to have made landfall at three places in north America, one of which he names Vinland - the land of wine Go to Vinland in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 10th century 11th century Society North America Canada
c. 1010	Thorfinn Karlsefni leads an expedition to north America, traces of which may survive in a longhouse at L'Anse aux Meadows Go to L'Anse aux Meadows in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 11th century Society North America Canada
1415	A Portuguese prince, Henry the Navigator, becomes fascinated by exploration down the coast of Africa and commissions successive voyages Go to Henry the Navigator (1394–1460) in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Portuguese empire Africa Europe Portugal Society Empires
c. 1425	Zheng He, a Muslim eunuch, makes voyages of trade and exploration with a fleet of Chinese junks Go to Zheng He (died c.1433) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century Asia East Asia China Society
1488	Bartolomeu Dias, sailing for the king of Portugal, becomes the first European navigator to round the Cape of Good Hope Go to Cape of Good Hope in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Portuguese empire Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Society Empires
1492	Christopher Columbus, together with the brothers Martin and Vicente Pinzón, sails west from Palos in Spain Go to Columbus, Christopher (c. 1451–1506) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Spain Society Empires After sailing for five weeks from the Canaries, Columbus and the Pinzón brothers step ashore in the Bahamas Go to Columbus, Christopher (c. 1451–1506) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Society Empires Latin America Caribbean Columbus and his fellow explorers make landfall on the largest of the Caribbean islands, Cuba Go to Columbus, Christopher (c. 1451–1506) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Society Empires Latin America Caribbean Cuba
1493	Columbus returns to Spain, landing at Palos with news of his great discoveries Go to Columbus, Christopher (c. 1451–1506) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Spain Society Empires
1497	Henry VII commissions the Italian navigator John Cabot to cross the Atlantic in search of new territories for England Go to Cabot, John (c. 1450–c. 1498) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Britain 1066-1500 15th century British Isles European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires Britain North America Canada John Cabot, searching for a trade route to China, probably reaches Newfoundland Go to Cabot, John (c. 1450–c. 1498) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires North America Canada
1498	Vasco da Gama reaches the southern coast of India, at Calicut, after sailing across the Indian Ocean from east Africa Go to da Gama, Vasco (c. 1469–1524) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century Portuguese empire Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) India (republic) Society Empires
1500	Portuguese explorer Pedro Cabral, with a fleet of thirteen ships, makes landfall in Brazil Go to Cabral, Pedro Álvares (1467–1520) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century 16th century Portuguese empire Society Empires Latin America Brazil South America
1501	Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci sets sail from Lisbon to explore to the south of the New World Go to Vespucci, Amerigo (1454–1512) in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Europe Portugal Society Latin America South America
1507	The editor of a pamphlet proposes that the recently found continent should be named America after the explorer Amerigo Vespucci Go to Vespucci, Amerigo (1454–1512) in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Society Latin America North America
1513	Vasco Núñez de Balboa reaches the Pacific coast and claims the ocean for the king of Spain Go to Balboa, Vasco Núñez de (1475–1519) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Mesoamerican civilization Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Society Empires Latin America Central America Mexico
1519	Ferdinand Magellan and a small fleet depart from Seville, attempting to sail round the world Go to Magellan, Ferdinand (c. 1480–1521) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Europe Spain Society
1521	Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan crosses the Pacific in ninety-nine days and reaches Guam Go to Magellan, Ferdinand (c. 1480–1521) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Australia and Oceania Pacific Islands Society Ferdinand Magellan is killed in the Philippines, in a skirmish with natives Go to Magellan, Ferdinand (c. 1480–1521) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Asia East Asia Southeast Asia Society
1522	One surviving ship of Magellan's fleet, the Victoria, returns to Sanlucar, in Spain, with Sebastian Cano in command Go to d'Abbadie, Antoine (1810–1897) in The Oxford Companion to World Exploration (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Europe Spain Society
1534	French explorer Jacques Cartier charts the Gulf of St Lawrence and, in 1525, explores up the river as far as Montreal Go to Cartier, Jacques (1491–1557) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Society North America Canada
1535	Cartier, welcomed by the Huron Indians, gives their island in the St Lawrence river the name of Montreal Go to Montreal (Canada, France, USA) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century American Indians Society North America Canada
1540	Francisco Vasquez de Coronado penetrates far north and west of Texas in an expedition searching for gold Go to Coronado, Francisco Vásquez de in New Oxford American Dictionary (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires North America United States
1568	Discovery of the Solomon Islands by a Spanish ship prompts interest in a possible Terra Australis Incognita ('unknown southern land') Go to Terra Australis Incognita in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century European empires from 1415 Australia and Oceania Pacific Islands Europe Society Empires
1577	Francis Drake sails from Plymouth, heading west for the Pacific and the East Indies Go to Drake, Sir Francis in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Britain 1500-1750 British Isles European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires Britain
1580	Francis Drake returns to England after his three-year voyage round the world and is knighted by Queen Elizabeth on board his Golden Hind Go to Drake, Sir Francis in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Britain 1500-1750 British Isles European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires Britain
1594	Willem Barents sets off on the first of his three expeditions to find a passage to the east through the waters north of Russia Go to Barents, Willem (c. 1550–97) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Europe Russia Society
1609	Henry Hudson reaches the inlet of New York Bay and explores the river now known by his name Go to Hudson, Henry (d.1611) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires North America United States
1611	Henry Hudson, after wintering in Hudson Bay, is set adrift in an open boat by his mutinous crew Go to Hudson, Henry (d.1611) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires North America Canada
1616	John Smith publishes A Description of New England, an account of his exploration of the region in 1614 Go to Smith, John (1580–1631) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Literature American literature English literature Literature in English Politics Conquest and colonization British Isles American Indians British colonial America British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires Britain North America United States
1642	Abel Tasman makes landfall in the Macquarie Harbour area in the island now known after him, Tasmania Go to Tasman, Abel (1603–c. 1659) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Australia and Oceania Society Australia The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman attempts to land in Golden Bay, New Zealand, resulting in a clash with the Maoris Go to Maori in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Dutch empire Australia and Oceania New Zealand Society Empires
1643	Abel Tasman reaches yet more islands previously unknown to Europeans – Tonga and Fiji Go to Tasman, Abel (1603–c. 1659) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Australia and Oceania Pacific Islands Society
1722	Easter Island is reached by the Dutch, beginning a spate of European discovery in the islands of the Pacific Go to Easter Island (Chile) in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Dutch empire Australia and Oceania Pacific Islands Society Empires
1728	The Danish explorer Vitus Bering sails into Arctic seas through the strait between Asia and America known now by his name Go to Bering (1681–1741) in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Asia East Asia Denmark Society
1768	Captain James Cook sails from Plymouth, in England, heading for Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus Go to Cook, James (1728–79) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 Australia and Oceania Pacific Islands Europe Society Empires Britain
1769	Captain Cook reaches New Zealand and sets off to chart its entire coastline Go to Cook, James (1728–79) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century British empire European empires from 1415 Australia and Oceania New Zealand Europe Society Empires
1770	Captain Cook reaches the mainland of Australia, at a place which he names Botany Bay, and continues up the eastern coast Go to Cook, James (1728–79) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century British empire European empires from 1415 Australia and Oceania Europe Society Empires Australia
1772	Captain Cook sets off, in HMS Resolution, on his second voyage to the southern hemisphere Go to Cook, James (1728–79) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 Australia and Oceania Pacific Islands Europe Society Empires Britain
c. 1775	Dutch nomads, pressing far north from Cape Town, become known as the Trekboers Go to Afrikaner in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Dutch empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) Europe Society Empires
1779	British explorer Captain James Cook is killed in a skirmish with natives in Hawaii over a stolen boat Go to Cook, James (1728–79) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century British empire European empires from 1415 Australia and Oceania Pacific Islands Europe Society Empires
1789	Alexander Mackenzie explores by canoe from central Canada through the Great Slave Lake to the Arctic Ocean Go to Mackenzie, Sir Alexander (c. 1764–1820) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires North America Canada
1791	Naval officer George Vancouver sails from Britain on the voyage which will bring him to the northwest coast of America Go to Vancouver, George (1757–98) in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century Britain 1750-1900 Great Britain - from 1707 British Isles British empire European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires Britain North America Canada
1792	Alexander Mackenzie reaches the Pacific coast of Canada, becoming the first known person to cross the north American continent See this event in other timelines: 18th century European empires from 1415 Europe Society Empires North America Canada
1795	Mungo Park sets off on his first expedition to explore the Niger on behalf of the African Association Go to Park, Mungo (1771–1806) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Germany Society Empires
1798	British explorer George Bass sails round Tasmania in an open whaleboat, discovering the strait which now bears his name Go to Bass Strait in The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 18th century British empire European empires from 1415 Australia and Oceania Europe Society Empires Australia
1804	Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set off from St Louis to explore up the Missouri river and west to the coast Go to Lewis, Meriwether in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Society North America United States
1805	Lewis and Clark make their way through the Rockies and reach the Pacific Go to Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–06) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Society North America United States
1806	Lewis and Clark get back to St Louis with a wealth of information about the unopened west of the continent Go to Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–06) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Society North America United States
1830	Richard Lander and his brother John explore the lower reaches of the Niger, proving that the great river is navigable Go to Lander, Richard Lemon (1804–34) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Germany Society Empires
1831	HMS Beagle sails from Plymouth to survey the coasts of the southern hemisphere, with Charles Darwin as the expedition's naturalist Go to Beagle, HMS in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Life sciences Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain
1832	The paddle steamer Alburkah becomes the first ocean-going iron ship, completing the journey from England to the Niger Go to paddle steamer noun in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Steam Technology Engineering European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa West Africa Europe Germany Society Empires
1836	HMS Beagle reaches Falmouth, in Cornwall, after a voyage of five years, and Charles Darwin brings with him a valuable collection of specimens Go to Beagle, HMS in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Britain 1750-1900 Science Life sciences Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1838	US naval officer Charles Wilkes leads a four-year exploration of the Antarctic and Pacific, proving on the way that Antarctica is a continent Go to Wilkes, Charles (1798–1877) in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Society North America United States
1845	English naval officer John Franklin sets off with two ships, Erebus and Terror, to search for the Northwest Passage Go to Franklin, Sir John (1786–1847) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Society Britain
1853	David Livingstone makes a heroic six-month journey from the Zambezi river to the west coast of Africa Go to Livingstone, David (1813–73) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era British empire Africa South Africa Society Empires
1855	David Livingstone, moving down the Zambezi, comes upon the Victoria Falls Go to Victoria Falls in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain
1857	Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke set off from Bagamoyo in their search for the source of the Nile Go to Burton, Sir Richard in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain
1858	Burton and Speke reach Lake Tanganyika at Ujiji, a place later famous for the meeting between Livingstone and Stanley Go to Burton, Sir Richard in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain Speke reaches Lake Victoria and guesses that it is probably the source of the Nile Go to Speke, John Hanning in Oxford Dictionary of English (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain
1859	Frozen remains and a document are finally found to reveal the fate of the Franklin expedition of 1845 to the Northwest Passage Go to Franklin, Sir John (1786–1847) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Society North America Canada
1862	Richard Burton, visiting Dahomey, provides reports of the kingdom's celebrated Amazons preparing for war Go to Burton, Sir Richard (1821–90) in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century War Africa West Africa Society Speke and Grant find the Ripon Falls, over which the headwater of the Nile flows from Lake Tanganyika Go to Speke, John Hanning (1827–1864) in Encyclopedia of Africa (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era British empire Africa East Africa Society Empires John McDouall Stuart reaches the north coast of Australia at Van Diemen's Gulf seven months after setting off from Adelaide Go to Stuart, John McDouall (1815–66) in The Oxford Companion to Australian History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era British empire European empires from 1415 Australia and Oceania Europe Society Empires Australia The bones of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills are brought back to Melbourne after the heroic failure of their attempt to cross Australia Go to Wills, Robert O'Hara, and William, explorers in The Oxford Companion to World Exploration (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era British empire Australia and Oceania Society Empires Australia
1869	The proprietor of the New York Herald gives Henry Morton Stanley a very concise commission – 'Find Livingstone' Go to Livingstone, David (1813–73) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era British empire Africa South Africa Society Empires
1871	Stanley, finding Livingstone at Ujiji, greets him with four words which become famous – 'Dr Livingstone, I presume' Go to Stanley, Sir Henry Morton (1841–1904) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles British empire Europe Society Empires Britain
1874	Stanley sets off from Bagamoyo, intending to resume the exploration of central Africa where Livingstone left off Go to Stanley, Sir Henry Morton (1841–1904) in The Oxford Companion to British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era British empire Africa Central Africa East Africa Society Empires
1876	Stanley passes Nyangwe on the Lualaba, the furthest point down the Congo river system reached by Livingstone Go to Stanley, Sir Henry Morton (1841–1904) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era British empire Africa Central Africa East Africa Society Empires
1877	Stanley completes his exploration of the Congo, reaching the Atlantic coast at Boma after a three-year journey Go to Stanley, Sir Henry Morton (1841–1904) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era British empire European empires from 1415 European empires in Africa Africa Central Africa East Africa Europe Society Empires
1893	Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen sails into the Arctic in the purpose-built Fram, beginning a three-year expedition to reach the North Pole Go to Nansen, Fridtjof (1861–1930) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Europe Norway Society
1901	Robert Falcon Scott sets off in the Discovery on his first expedition to the Antarctic Go to Scott, Robert Falcon (1868–1912) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century War Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain
1906	Roald Amundsen and his crew are the first to achieve the Northwest Passage, in a journey lasting three years in a 70-ft fishing boat Go to Amundsen, Roald (1872–1928) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Society North America Canada
1908	Ernest Shackleton, leading an expedition to the Antarctic, locates the south magnetic pole Go to Shackleton, Sir Ernest Henry (1874–1922) in A Dictionary of British History (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century War Society
1909	Sea captain Joseph-Elzéar Bernier unveils a plaque in the Arctic Archipelago, declaring that all the islands belong to Canada Go to Bernier, Captain Joseph-Elzéar (1852–1934) in The Oxford Companion to Canadian History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Society North America Canada Louis Blériot is the first to fly across the English Channel, winning the £1000 prize offered by the Daily Mail Go to Blériot, Louis (1872–1936) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Technology Engineering War Europe France Society
1910	Robert Falcon Scott sails south in the Terra Nova on his second voyage towards the South Pole Go to Scott, Robert Falcon (1868–1912) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Scotland British Isles Europe Society Britain
c. 1911	The lost Inca city of Machu Picchu is reached by US archaeologist Hiram Bingham Go to Bingham, Hiram (1875–1956) in The Oxford Companion to World Exploration (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Society Latin America Peru South America Roald Amundsen and his Norwegian team become the first people to stand at the South Pole Go to Amundsen, Roald (1872–1928) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Norway Society
1912	Robert Falcon Scott and his companions reach the South Pole a month after Amundsen - and die on the return journey Go to Scott, Robert Falcon (1868–1912) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Society
1913	The Canadian Arctic Expedition, led by Vilhjalmur Stefansson, sets off to the north Go to Canadian Arctic Expedition in The Oxford Companion to Canadian History (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Society North America Canada
1916	After an 800-mile journey in an open boat Ernest Shackleton returns to rescue his stranded colleagues in the South Shetlands Go to Shackleton, Sir Ernest Henry (1874–1922) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Society Latin America South America
1929	US explorer Richard E. Byrd and two companions make the first flight over the South Pole, in a Ford Tri-Motor Go to Byrd, Richard Evelyn (1888–1957) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Technology Engineering Society
1947	Thor Heyerdahl sets sail across the Pacific from Peru in a balsa wood boat, the Kon-Tiki Go to Heyerdahl, Thor (1914–2002) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Society Latin America Peru South America
1953	New Zealander Edmund Hillary and the Sherpa Tenzing Norgay stand together on the top of Everest Go to Hillary, Sir Edmund Percival (1919–2008) in A Dictionary of Sports Studies (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Asia South Asia India (the subcontinent) India (republic) Society
1958	A Commonwealth team, led by Vivian Fuchs, completes the first overland crossing of Antarctica Go to Fuchs, Sir Vivian Ernest (1908–1999) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Society

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date: 02 December 2023

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