Lesson summary “Geographical location and history of exploration of Australia. History of the discovery of Australia Who explored Australia

The discovery and further exploration of Australia is associated with the search for the “Unknown Southern Land” (Terra australis incognita), which was marked on his map by C. Ptolemy. As is known, back in the 2nd century. he made a map of the world, entered into

famous work "Guide to Geography". For many centuries, sailors used it as an important source of knowledge.

Europeans first visited Australia in 1606, when the Dutch navigator W. Janszoon explored a section of the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula in the north of the continent. During the 17th century. the main discoveries were made by Dutch travelers, with the exception of the Spanish expedition, during which JI. Torres opened the strait between New Guinea and Australia. This was the last major geographical discovery of Spanish navigators. For many years it was kept secret. Only in the second half of the 18th century, having captured Manila, the British penetrated the Spanish secret archives and became familiar with Torres' message. Subsequently, the strait between New Guinea and Australia was rightly called Torres Owl.

Through the priority of the Dutch, Australia first received the name New Holland. Passing Indian Ocean south of the equator, they sometimes reached desert lands with “wild” tribes, the level of development of which corresponded to the Stone Age. These sparsely populated shores were not of great practical interest. New Holland considered the northern protrusion of the unknown Southern continent. No settlements were built here. Information about the nature of coastal waters was carefully collected, but also kept secret. So, in 1627, Captain Peter Nates (Newts) mapped the western half of the southern coast of Australia, as well as the archipelago located nearby.

But most important discoveries The coast of Australia was managed by the Dutchman Abel Janszoon Tasman (1603-1659). In 1642, from the Netherlands Indies (modern Indonesia), he set out in search of the main territory of the “unknown Southern Continent.” On September 5, two of his ships dropped anchor off the island of Mauritius (western Indian Ocean, group of Mascarene Islands), where the navigator spent more than a month. On October 8, the expedition set off further. Soon she reached 49°S. sh., but could not move further south due to the storm. Then one of the participants in the campaign suggested climbing to latitude 44 and sailing along it to the east. From a navigational point of view, this proposal was very reasonable: driven by steady westerly winds, Tasman's ships rushed across the oceanic spaces and... passed by Australia.

At the second stage, from mid-December 1642 to early January 1643, Tasman's expedition went east and discovered the mountainous coast of South Island ( New Zealand). In one of the bays, local Maori residents killed four sailors. The navigator was forced to leave his anchorage and cruised for several days in the waters between the South and North islands, which he did not know. Tasman mistook the 1,300 km long western coast of the islands he discovered for a protrusion of the Southern continent. On June 14, 1643, the Dutch navigator returned to Batavia (the modern capital of Indonesia, Jakarta).

The geographical results of the expedition were very noticeable. In addition to South Island, Abel Tasman discovered Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), the islands of Tonga and Fiji. He “pushed” the Southern continent 800 km to the south, established that New Holland (Australia) had nothing to do with it, and opened a new sea route from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific in the westerly wind zone. But at one point the Tasman didn't even come close to Australia.

At the beginning of 1644 p. In Batavia, a new expedition consisting of three ships was equipped. Its geographic results exceeded all expectations. Abel Tasman explored the Gulf of Carpentaria and proved the absence of a strait to the south. He then traced and mapped the coast of North and Western Australia about 5500 km, discovered a large peninsula (Arnhem Land). Sometimes, due to reefs and small islands, Tasman had to stay at a considerable distance from the coast, but he established that the strip was continuous, and therefore the land formed a single massif. Already at the beginning of August 1644, the navigator returned to Batavia.

However, the East India Company was disappointed with the results of Tasman's last expedition, because he found neither gold nor spices - the navigator brought not very flattering news about the deserted shores of the vast land. The routes laid out by the captain did not promise any benefit to the company, because it already held in its tenacious hands the sea route leading to the East Indies past the cape Good Hope. To prevent competitors from taking advantage of the routes opened by Tasman, the company considered it expedient to classify them and at the same time stop further searches. Moreover, the following recommendations were received from Amsterdam in Batavia: “It is advisable that this land remain unknown and unexplored, so as not to attract the attention of foreigners to ways by which they could harm the interests of the company...”

Australia was discovered a second time by the outstanding English navigator James Cook. In 1768 p. the ship "Indevre" ("Attempt"), led by him, left Plymouth, then crossed Atlantic Ocean and, having rounded Cape Horn, came out to Pacific Ocean. Eight months after sailing, the ship landed on the shore of the island of Tahiti. In Matawai Bay, the British built an astronomical observatory and observed the passage of the planet Venus through the solar disk.

Leaving Tahiti, Endevre headed southwest. On October 7, the British sighted land again. High, snow-covered chains of mountains stretched along the coast. Cook knew that in front of him was the land that the outstanding Dutch navigator Tasman (New Zealand) had visited back in 1642.

"Indevr" dropped anchor in one of the convenient bays (Poverti Bay). Soon local residents appeared, armed with spears and stone axes. They did not allow the British ashore. In three battles, several local residents were killed. Cook was depressed by this course of events; he understood that further attempts to land would lead to a continuation of the senseless massacre.

After this, Cook cruised along the shores of an unfamiliar land for more than three months. Finally, on March 26, the expedition completed its voyage around the southern island, which finally refuted the myths about New Zealand as part of a huge Southern continent. At the same time, Cook compiled a map of the two islands of New Zealand, which is still amazingly accurate today. He also collected information about the character and customs of New Zealanders. James Cook noted that south island almost uninhabited, but the northern one, where the climate is milder, is quite densely populated, its fields are cultivated, there are many songbirds in the dense forests, rats and dogs live there, which they eat.

Leaving the shores of New Zealand, Cook led the ships west. Soon he approached the east coast of Australia, which none of the Europeans had seen. For a week, the Endevr continuously moved north until a convenient bay was finally found. Here Kuku and his companions met the first aborigines, very dark-skinned and completely different in appearance than the Polynesians and Maoris.

When the British dropped anchor, Cook noted with surprise that the locals, who were fishing from two boats, did not pay the slightest attention to the Endevre. This seemed incomprehensible, because it was unlikely that they could ever see such a ship in their lives. None of the aborigines showed any signs of hospitality. All of them, as they noticed from the ship, carried “short curved sabers” - the famous boomerangs.

The coastal waters of Australia are so rich in fish that Cook named the site of one of the sites Stingray Harbor (Scatha). However, there was no meat, no fruits, no vegetables - the aborigines had no idea about growing cultivated plants, which indicated their low level of development. But on these shores there was such a variety of wild plants that Banks and other scientists on the expedition were indescribably delighted. They discovered hundreds of species unknown in Europe. Cook had no choice but to rename the bay, calling it Botany Bay (Botanical Bay).

Leaving the mainland, Cook did not forget to solemnly declare it the possession of the British crown (he did the same while in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands). The partner territory was named New South Wales.

Subsequently, the expedition visited New Guinea and Java. At that time, the city of Batavia (modern Jakarta, the capital and largest city of Indonesia to the north on the west coast of Java) had a reputation as the most unhealthy place in the world. When the Endevr left him, the crew was missing seven sailors who had given their souls to God during the stay. A few weeks after departure, twenty-three more crew members died, including the expedition's astronomer and artist. So, during a relatively short voyage from the East Indies to Africa, Cook lost a quarter of his crew. The navigator himself seemed to be immune to disease. Although it is possible that he was also sick, he did not show it. On June 12, 1771, he finally managed to return to England.

Cook's expedition lasted two years and eleven months. It’s hard to believe now, but in just two months of sailing, he annexed New Zealand and the entire continent of Australia to the English colonies.

During his first circumnavigation of the world, Cook failed to find the large Southern continent (the same “Unknown South Land”). To finally find out whether it really exists, the British government equipped a new expedition.

The length of the route of the next expedition was 84 thousand km, that is, more than twice the length of the earth's equator. At the same time, Cook visited the “roaring forties” and “furious fifties” latitudes (as these places were called by English sailors in the 19th century), and circumnavigated the central part of the Pacific Ocean twice. Without a doubt, this was the most exploratory voyage launched in the Pacific Ocean. It took the British three years and eighteen days to implement it. During all this time, Cook lost only one crew member.

After his second circumnavigation of the world, James Cook became a hero. He was elected a member of the Royal Society, awarded the rank of captain of the first rank, and was awarded a gold medal for his article on preserving the health of sailors. The traveler was received by the king, and the lords of the Admiralty perceived Cook as their equal.

Soon the legendary navigator agreed to the offer to become the head new expedition. She had to solve another legendary problem - finding the northwest passage, but this time starting from the Pacific Ocean. In 1776, on the ship "Resolution" and the new ship "Discovery" (Opening), he set off on his third and final voyage around the world.

Cook's ships traveled the following route: the Cape of Good Hope, Tasmania, New Zealand, the Friendship Islands (Tonga) and the Society Islands. During long stays on the Society Islands, the navigator replenished his stock of geographical, hydrographic and ethnographic information, and also continued to study the nature of Oceania.

Sailing then north, Cook rediscovered what had once been found by the Spaniards, but was subsequently forgotten, Hawaiian Islands, which he renamed Sandwich. The islanders greeted the British friendly: they brought a lot of fruits, edible roots, drove pigs, helped the sailors pour fresh water and load them into boats. Scientists were able to go deep into the islands for their research.

From the Hawaiian Islands, the ships headed east, towards the shores of America. In search of the northwest passage, Cook walked to the northwestern tip of North America, mapping all the important points and giving them names. Then he visited the shores of Asia and on August 11, 1778 entered the Bering Strait. For a whole month, the ships moved along the edge of the ice field, hoping to find some passage that would make it possible to penetrate further to the north. However, all attempts were in vain. Cook failed to find a passage to the Atlantic, and the ships returned back: first to the mouth of the Yukon, and then to Hawaii. This time, relations with the islanders first became strained and then hostile.

The Hawaiians began to steal various small items from the ships. The size of the thefts grew further away, and it came to the point that on February 14, 1779 they stole a whaleboat (a fast eight-oar boat). As a result of the conflict with local residents Cook was kidnapped. For several days the British knew nothing about the fate of the captain. Finally, a detachment of Hawaiians approached the ships and handed over the remains of the great navigator. On February 22, to the sound of gunfire, they were plunged into the abyss of the ocean.

The crew, overwhelmed by grief, wanted to avenge the death of their captain, but Cook’s assistant and deputy, Charles Clarke, who had not only a strong character, but also wisdom, refused. He understood perfectly well that this would lead to massacres. In addition, Clark did not believe that Cook's murder was premeditated.

Thus, suddenly and prematurely, came to an end the travels of James Cook, which made his name immortal.

In 1797-1803 pp. walked all over New Holland English explorer Matthew Flinders. He mapped South coast continent, and in 1814 he published the book “Travel to Terra Australia,” where he talked about his voyages and discoveries. Flinders deliberately used part ancient name“Unknown Southern Land” (Terra australis incognita) and explained that now that this land is completely and quite accurately outlined, there is no reason to call it “Unknown” and, especially, New Holland. Since then, the name “New Holland” has disappeared, they began to use the name Australia, and there is “South”.

However, Australia still remained largely incognita, i.e. unknown. On the map, almost all of its inland territory was an untouched blank spot. Due to the difficulties of crossing vast deserts, the first expeditions were concentrated in coastal areas. Their most important task was the search for fertile lands necessary for the agricultural activities of the mainland's growing population. It is quite possible that the first criminals to enter these areas were the peasants and the guards who caught them (prisoners were sent to Australia until 1851, many of them were sentenced to life).

У1829-1830 pp. Ch. erased (1795-1869) and T. Mitchell (1792-1855), each taking their own route, crossed the Great Dividing Range and found themselves on the threshold of the great plains. Without going into too much detail, they conducted research in South Eastern Australia. Here travelers explored the pool largest river continent - the Murray and its tributaries - the Darling.

So, in 1835 Mitchell went down the Darling for about 500 km, reaching an area where there were almost no trees and very little grass grew.

During the Middle Ages, the most incredible legends were made about the wild lands of Australia, calling them the Green Continent Terra Australis Incognita, which translates to “unknown southern land.”

Back in school, we were told that humanity owes the discovery of this picturesque, one-of-a-kind continent to a captain and navigator from England James Cook. It is believed that for the first time residents Big Earth, and specifically Cook first set foot on the shores of Australia in 1770.

It turns out that Europeans had visited Australia before it was discovered by researcher J. Cook. Who, in this case, actually discovered the continent, and in what period of time? a grand affair happened?

The first people appeared in Australia approximately 40–60 thousand years ago. They are the ancestors of the current indigenous Australian population.

Archaeological finds conducted on the Green Continent in the western part of the continent in the upper reaches of the Swan River prove that it was during this period that people began to live in this territory.

To this day, it has not been established exactly where the aborigines came to the Australian continent from. But it is known that at that time people immediately settled in Australia several heterogeneous populations. Historians claim that people arrived on the mainland by sea, thus becoming the earliest seafarers in the world.

Who was in Australia before the Europeans

According to some assumptions of historians and archaeologists, there is an opinion that the discoverers of Australia were the ancient Egyptians, who brought from these lands the most valuable eucalyptus oil in those days.

During research carried out in Australia, it was possible to discover rock carvings of insects that are similar in appearance to a scarab. In addition, archaeological excavations in Egypt helped to find out that the mummies were embalmed with eucalyptus oil, which grew in Australia.

Even such amazing historical discoveries and the seemingly indisputable evidence raises doubts among many historians and researchers, because in Europe they began to talk about Australia much later than the heyday of Egypt.

The first Europeans to visit the Green Continent

Willem Janszoon

More in the 16th century Europeans repeatedly tried to discover Australia, but the sailors of that time were not able to get to the mainland due to the dangerous coastlines in some regions of the Green Continent.

A number of scientists believe that the first inhabitants of Europe to set foot on the shores of Australia were the Portuguese.

According to some historical data, it is generally accepted that they did this V 1509, visiting the Moluccas Islands.

Having lived on these Australian landmass for some time, in 1522 they moved to the northwest of the mainland. Found cannons dating back to the 16th century prove the presence of Portuguese navigators. It is assumed that these weapons belonged to sailors from Portugal.

To date, this version is not official. Australians claim that the first European to set foot on the Green Continent was a Dutch admiral Willem Janszoon. This fact is indisputable today.

On his ship called "Dyfken" in November 1605 he left the city of Bantam in Indonesia and headed to New Guinea. After three months of his journey, he landed on the Cape York Peninsula, on the northwest coast of Australia.

It is important to know! Janszon explored more than 320 km of the Australian coast, compiling a detailed map of it.

Interesting that Admiral Willem Janszoon never realized that he had actually discovered Australia. He mistook the lands he found for part of New Guinea and named this territory “New Holland.”

Another navigator from Holland also visited Australia after Janszoon - Abel Tasman. It was he who discovered the islands of New Zealand, and also brought it to his detailed map and the west coast of Australia.

It was thanks to the research of Dutch navigators that by the middle of the 17th century Australia began to take shape.

The official history of the discovery of Australia

James Cook

A number of scientists continue to insist that James Cook- a true pioneer of Australia.

And all because as soon as he visited this continent, Europeans immediately began to come here.

Officially considered that the purpose of Cook's voyage was to study the passage of the planet Venus through the solar disk.

But this world-famous navigator, and then a desperate young lieutenant, wanted to find that very Terra Australis Incognita.

So, Starting point trip around the world Cook became the city of Plymouth (England). In April 1769 On the ship Endeavor, the captain and his crew reached the shores of Tahiti, and a year later he approached the eastern Australian shores. After his discovery, he went to this continent with an expedition two more times.

It is important to know! James Cook discovered Australia as part of his voyage around the world in 1768 with the goal of discovering the "unknown southern land".

So, during the third Cook expedition in 1778 The Hawaiian Islands were discovered and became the site of his tragic death. James Cook failed to improve relations with the Hawaiians. When the navigator attempted to capture a local leader, he was allegedly killed in the battle with a spear blow to the back of the head.

Australia has always been an attractive territory for Europeans. The mysterious southern lands excited the minds of famous sailors. Of course, this one the mainland is incredibly beautiful and mysterious.

And although there are official versions discovery of the Green Continent, a number of researchers found evidence that Europeans visited these lands long before James Cook.

What is the history of Australia? Let us briefly consider the events associated with its discovery. Some researchers have expressed their assumptions that the first Europeans to reach the shores of Australia at the beginning of the seventeenth century were the Portuguese.

What is the history of discovery and exploration of Australia? This information is briefly presented in encyclopedias, but they do not contain interesting points that confirm travelers’ interest in this territory. Among the evidence that it was the Portuguese who became the discoverers of Australia, the following arguments can be cited:

1. The Dieppe maps, which were published in mid-16th century France, show a large area of ​​land between Antarctica and Indonesia called Java la Grande. All explanations and symbols on the map are in Portuguese and French.
2. At the beginning of the sixteenth century in South-East Asia Portuguese colonies were located. For example, the island of Timor, which is located 650 kilometers from the Australian coast, was attributed specifically to Portuguese travelers.

French "trace"

What else Interesting Facts contains the history of the discovery of Australia and Oceania? Let us briefly tell you that the French navigator Binot Polmier de Gonneville said that it was he who landed on unknown lands near the Cape of Good Hope in 1504. This happened after his ship was blown off its intended course by the winds. Thanks to this statement, it was this traveler who was long credited with the discovery of Australia. After some time, it was found out that he ended up on the coast of Brazil.

Discovery of Australia by the Dutch

Let's continue the conversation about the history of the discovery of Australia and Oceania. Let us briefly dwell on the first indisputable fact documented in the winter of 1606. The expedition of the Dutch East India Company, led by Willem Janson, managed to land on the coast with his comrades aboard the ship "Golubok". After sailing from the island of Java, they went to the southern part of New Guinea, moving along it; after some time, the Dutch expedition managed to reach the shores of the Cape York Peninsula, located in the northern part of Australia. The crew members were confident that they were still off the coast of New Guinea.

It is the history of the development of Australia that is briefly discussed in the school course on geography. The expedition did not see which divides the coasts of Australia and New Guinea. On February 26, team members landed near what is now the city of Weipa. The Dutch were immediately attacked by the aborigines. Later, Janson and his people explored about 350 kilometers of the Australian coast, sometimes making landings. His crew constantly ran into hostile natives, so several Dutch sailors were killed during brutal battles with the natives. The captain decided to return. He never realized that he and his team managed to discover a new continent. Since Janson, in describing his exploration of the coast, described it as a swampy and deserted place, no one attached much importance to his new discovery. The East India Company sent expeditions in the hope of enriching themselves with jewelry and spices, and not at all for serious geographical discoveries.

Luis Vaez de Torres

Briefly describing the history of the exploration of Australia, we can also talk about how this traveler moved through the same strait through which Janson’s team first passed. Geographers have assumptions that Torres and his comrades managed to visit the northern coast of the continent, but written evidence of this hypothesis has not been found. After some time, the strait began to be called Torres Strait in honor of Luis Vaez de Torres.

Notable expeditions

The history of the discovery and exploration of Australia is also of interest, briefly telling the story of the journey of another ship of the Dutch East India Company, captained by Dirk Hartog. In 1616, the ship managed to reach the western coast of Australia, near Shark Bay. For three days, the sailors explored the coast and also explored the islands located nearby. The Dutch did not find anything interesting, so Hartog decided to continue sailing, heading north along coastline, which has not been explored before. The team then headed to Batavia.

Where is the history of the discovery of Australia described? Briefly 7th grade is studying information about expeditions here from Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. For example, teachers talk about how in 1619 Jacob d'Erdel and Frederic de Houtman set out on two ships to explore the Australian coast. As they moved north, they discovered a strip of reefs called Houtman Rock.

Continuing research

After this expedition, other Dutch sailors repeatedly found themselves on these shores, calling the land New Holland. They did not even try to explore the coast, since they did not find any commercial interest here.

The beautiful coastline, even if it aroused their curiosity, clearly did not stimulate them to explore what useful resources Australia has. The history of the country briefly describes the exploration of the northern and western coasts. The Dutch concluded that the northern lands were infertile and unsuitable for use. The sailors did not see eastern and southern shores, therefore Australia was unfairly considered uninteresting for application.

First buildings

In the summer of 1629, the East India Company ship Batavia found itself at the Houtman Rocks due to a shipwreck. Soon there was a mutiny, as a result of which part of the crew built a small fort for protection. It became the first European building in Australia. Geographers suggest that at the turn of the 16th-17th centuries, about fifty European ships reached the territory of Australia.

The history of the exploration and settlement of Australia briefly tells about the discoveries made by ships. In 1642, he tried to circumnavigate New Holland from the south, and discovered an island called Van Diemen's Land. After some time it was renamed Tasmania. With subsequent advancement to the east, after some time, the ships ended up near New Zealand. Tasman's first voyage was not successful; the travelers failed to get closer to Australia.

The history of Australia briefly tells us that only in 1644 Tasman was able to study the north-west coast in detail, to prove that all the lands that were discovered and analyzed in earlier expeditions were parts of one continent.

English Studies

The history of Australia briefly notes the English contribution to its research. Until the second half of the seventeenth century, there was practically no information in England about the lands that were discovered by Dutch travelers. In 1688, a pirate ship carrying the Englishman William Dampier ended up on the northwest coast, near Lake Melville. This fact has been preserved by the history of Australia. Briefly, the surviving records say that after repairs the ship returned to England. Here Dampier published a story about the journey, which aroused genuine interest among the English Admiralty.

In 1699, Dampier set out on a second voyage to the coast of Australia on the ship Roebuck. But during this trip he did not find anything interesting, so the Admiralty decided to stop funding the expedition.

Cook's Expedition

When telling the history of the discovery of Australia, one cannot leave without due attention the expedition of 1170, led by Lieutenant James Cook. On the sailing ship "Attempt" his team went to the South Pacific Ocean. The official purpose of the expedition was to make astronomical observations, but in fact Cook received tasks from the Admiralty to study the southern part of the continent. Cook believed that since New Holland has a western coast, it follows that there must be an eastern one.

At the end of April 1770, an English expedition landed on east coast Australia. The landing site was first called Stingray Bay, then it was renamed Botany Bay because of the unusual plants that were found there.

The discovered lands were named New Wales by Cook, and then the New Englishman did not even realize how large-scale the discovery he had made was.

British colonies

They decided to colonize the lands that Cook had discovered, using them as the first colonies for convicts. The fleet, led by Captain Arthur Philip, included 11 ships. He arrived in Australia in January 1788, but, recognizing the region as inconvenient for settlement, they moved north. Governor Philip issued an order that created the first British colony in Australia. The soils around Sydney Harbor were not suitable for farming, so farms were established near the Parramatta River.

The second fleet, which arrived in Australia in 1790, brought various materials and supplies here. During the voyage, 278 convicts and crew members died, which is why history calls it the “Deadly Fleet.”

In 1827, a small British settlement was built at King Georges Sound by Major Edmund Lockyer. He became the first governor of a colony created for convicts.

South Australia was founded in 1836. It was not intended for convicts, but some former prisoners moved here from other colonies.

Conclusion

It was developed almost fifty thousand years before its official discovery by European travelers. For centuries, people with their own unique culture and religion lived in the arid deserts and tropical jungles of the continent. After the colonization of the Australian coast, a period of active exploration of the territory began. Among the first serious researchers who managed to study the beds of the Macquarie and Lochlan rivers, geographers call John Oxley. Robert Burke became the first Englishman to cross the mainland from north to south. The discovery of Australia was the result of centuries-long searches by the Dutch, Portuguese, and British of the southern country.

In 2006, archaeologists discovered ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs in Australia. This fact led to the formulation of an original hypothesis about the opening of a contingent by the Egyptians.

Scientists have agreed that the most likely time for the discovery of Australia can be considered 1606. It was then that the famous Dutchman V. Janszoon explored the northeastern part - the Cape York Peninsula.

The history of the settlement of Australia is briefly outlined in this material. Until now, it is associated with numerous mysteries that scientists have yet to solve. For example, cannons discovered during archaeological excavations suggest that the Portuguese visited this territory in the fifteenth century. Full map The British colony that was Australia was only compiled by scientists at the beginning of the last century.

The material presented in the article is aimed at forming an idea of ​​who is the discoverer of the continent. The article contains reliable historical information. The information will help you obtain true information from the history of the discovery of Australia by sailors and travelers.

Who discovered Australia?

Every educated person today knows that the discovery of Australia by James Cook occurred when he visited East Coast mainland in 1770. However, these lands were known in Europe long before the famous English navigator appeared there.

Rice. 1. James Cook.

The ancestors of the indigenous population of the mainland appeared on the continent approximately 40-60 thousand years ago. The ancients date back to this historical period archaeological finds, which were discovered by scientists in the upper reaches of the Swan River at the western tip of the mainland.

Rice. 2. Swan River.

It is known that people ended up on the continent thanks to sea routes. This fact also indicates that it was these pioneers who became the earliest sea travelers. It is generally accepted that at that time at least three heterogeneous groups settled in Australia.

Explorers of Australia

There is an assumption that the discoverers of Australia were the ancient Egyptians.

TOP 2 articleswho are reading along with this

From history we know that Australia was discovered several times by different people:

• Egyptians;
• Dutch admiral Willem Janszoon;
• James Cook.

The latter is recognized as the official discoverer of the continent for humanity. All these versions are still controversial and contradictory. There is no clear point of view on this issue.

During research carried out on the Australian mainland, images of insects similar in appearance to scarabs were found. And during archaeological research in Egypt, researchers discovered mummies that were embalmed using eucalyptus oil.

Despite such clear evidence, many historians express reasonable doubts about this version, since the continent became famous in Europe much later.

Attempts to discover Australia were made by the world's navigators back in the 16th century. Many Australian researchers assume that the first Europeans to set foot on the continent were the Portuguese.

It is known that in 1509, sailors from Portugal visited the Moluccas, after which in 1522 they moved to the northwest of the mainland.

At the beginning of the 20th century, naval guns that were created back in the 16th century were found in this area.

The unofficial version of the discovery of Australia is the one that states that the discoverer of the continent is the Dutch admiral Willem Janszoon. He was never able to understand that he had become the discoverer of new lands, because he believed that he was getting closer to the lands of New Guinea.

Rice. 3. Willem Janszoon.

However, the main history of Australian exploration is attributed to James Cook. It was after his travels to unknown lands that the active conquest of the mainland by Europeans began.

It is known for certain that Cook went on a voyage around the world and ended up in “distant lands.” In 1770, his expedition reached the coast of the mainland. Officially, this date of the discovery of Australia is recognized as historically accurate.

What have we learned?

From historical information we found out who first visited the lands of the distant continent. The time period when exactly these lands were developed by man has been established. The names of the first seafarers are mentioned, who for the first time found themselves near Australia without even suspecting that they had made a major geographical discovery.

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Municipal state educational institution

"Kurkinsky secondary school No. 2"

NOTES OF A DISTRICT LESSON IN GEOGRAPHY

ON THE TOPIC OF:

Geographical position and the history of Australian exploration."

DATE: 12/16/2013

Class: 7

Goals and objectives of the lesson:

begin to develop students’ ideas and knowledge about the nature of Australia;

remember existing terms and concepts and understand new ones;

consider the features of the geographical location of Australia, continuing to develop the ability to determine the geographical location of an object;

begin to develop the ability to compare the geographical location of two objects;

introduce students to the history of the discovery and exploration of Australia, the most significant expeditions and travels.

consolidate the acquired material in practice.

Educational and visual complex: Physical map of Australia, the world, atlases, contour maps, textbooks, computer, multimedia projector, workbook for the textbook by E.M. Domogatskikh, EOR on the continents “Africa”, “Australia”, textbook by E.M. Domogatskikh, methodological guide to the textbook.

Lesson type: learning new material.

During the classes

Organizing time.

Hello guys. Today is an unusual day for us - many guests have gathered, whom we are all very happy about. The lesson will also be unusual in its form and content. And the continent that we will get to know is also very unusual. I suggest we start.

II Updating previously studied material.

First, let's remember: which continent have we already met?

Yes, we have begun to study the continents of planet Earth. The first continent we met was Africa.

And now we will check how well you have studied this continent.

Generalization of knowledge on Africa

2.1 Individual work.

Working with a physical map of Africa. (card No. 1)

Card#1

Assignment: to characterize the physical and geographical position of the African continent according to the plan:

Plan

IN) Extreme points continent.

TO) Large countries Africa.

Card No. 2

result and see your rating.

question #1

platform

folded areas

enter the number of the correct answer

question number 2

northern and western

southern and eastern

enter the number of the correct answer

question number 3

in the southern part

enter the number of the correct answer

question number 4

along the equator

along the southern tropic

along ocean coasts

enter the number of the correct answer

question number 5

Sahara

Kalahari

enter the number of the correct answer

question number 6

subtropical

tropical

equatorial

enter the number of the correct answer

question number 7

forests is:

fertile soils

favorable climate

enter the number of the correct answer

question #8

savannah

deserts

equatorial forests

enter the number of the correct answer

question number 9

evatorial forests

savannah

deserts

enter the number of the correct answer

question #10

Mongoloid

Negroid

Caucasian

enter the number of the correct answer

(The student does the work on the laptop and receives the result of his work)

Card No. 3

"Crossword on the topic:"Animal and vegetable world Africa"

1. When he's in a cage

it's pleasant

On the skin

many black spots.

He is a beast of prey

although a little

Like a lion and a tiger

looks like a cat.

2.Natural area occupying 40% of Africa.

4. Tree of equatorial forests, forming the upper tier.

5. A tree-like plant with fleshy stems and branches, devoid of leaves and covered with thorns.

6. This beast

faster than the wind

And I can

assure you,

He's a hundred and twenty

kilometers

Develops

speed per hour.

7. A tree-like plant with fleshy stems and branches, devoid of leaves and covered with thorns

8. A relative of the giraffe, found only in Africa.

9.African wild horse.

10. Sweet potato.

11.Sandy desert

12. Climbing plant

13. Tree of equatorial forests, forming the upper tier

Card No. 4

Assignment: Name the country based on its description

This state is located both in Africa and Asia.

The capital of this state is the city of Tripoli.

This state, facing the Indian Ocean, is located on the largest peninsula in Africa.

This state is completely surrounded by the territory of South Africa.

Most of the Congo River basin is located within this state.

This state opens to the Mediterranean Sea where the Strait of Gibraltar is located.

The White Nile and Blue Nile rivers merge within this state.

This state in the north is washed by the waters Mediterranean Sea, and in the west and southeast it borders with Algeria and Libya.

1. Frontal testing of students according to options.

(Students complete in parallel with the individual survey)

Option

Choose the correct answer

Africa's area is

a) 30.3 thousand km 2

b) 30.3 million km 2

c) 303 million km 2

Extreme northern point mainland is cape

a) Ras Hafun

b) Ras Angela

c) Almadi

Most of African territory is located between

a) the equator and the northern tropic

b) the equator and the southern tropic

c) northern and southern tropics

Crossed South Africa from west to east, explored the Zambezi River

a) Vasco da Gama

b) David Livingston

c) N.I. Vavilov

The Atlas Mountains are located

a) on an ancient platform

b) in the area of ​​new folding

c) in the area of ​​ancient folding

The relief of Africa is dominated by

a) lowlands

b) hills and plateaus

into the mountains

highest peak Africa

a) Kenya

b) the city of Toubkal

c) Kilimanjaro

The tallest t º on Earth (+58º C) registered in

a) Tripoli

b) Cairo

in Algeria

Pygmies, Nilotes, Tutsis belong to the race

a) Caucasian

b) equatorial

c) intermediate

The most long river Africa

a) Congo

b) Neil

c) Niger

Option 2

Africa is smaller in size than

a) Eurasia

b) North America

V) South America

The easternmost point of the continent is the cape

a) Ras Angela

b) Ras Hafun

c) Needle

Unlike other continents, Africa is intersected

a) the southern polar circle

b) prime meridian

c) almost in the middle with the equator

Circled South Africa, opened a sea route to India

a) Vasco da Gama

b) David Livingston

c) V.V. Junker

5.Elevated to a height of more than 1000 m

a) Northern and South Africa

b) South and East Africa

c) Northern and West Africa

6.Most high mountains are

a) Cape

b) Draconian

c) Atlas

a) Zambezi

b) Congo

c) Neil

8.Largest lake by area

a) Victoria

b) Chad

c) Tanganyika

Natural area occupying 40% of the continent's area

a) equatorial forests

b) savannas

c) deserts

Largest country by population

a) Egypt

b) Nigeria

c) South Africa

Key to the test: (Slide No. 1)

Option 1:

Option 2:

PHYSMINUTE

Learning new things.

- To determine which continent we have to study next, I want to read a poem ( Slide 2).

It is located below us.
They're obviously walking upside down there,
There's a year turned inside out,
The gardens there bloom in October,
It's summer there in October, not July,
Rivers flow there without water
(they disappear somewhere in the desert)
There are traces of wingless birds in the thickets,
There cats get snakes for food,
Animals are born from eggs,
And there the dogs don't know how to bark,
Trees climb out of their bark on their own.
There rabbits are worse than a flood...

- What continent are we talking about? (children's answers - Australia)

That's right, this is mainland Australia.

Reference

Australia (from Latin means southern) is the smallest continent on Earth. Due to its small size, it is sometimes called a mainland - an island. There are also peculiarities in the development of the mainland, since Australia remained a blank spot longer than all other large lands on the planet. For a long time, the continent was, as it were, cut off from the historical processes taking place in other parts of the world. Over many thousands of years, powerful centers of civilization were born in Africa, Asia, Europe, America, and in Australia the reign of stone Age. The Commonwealth of Australia is a state in the Southern Hemisphere with an area of ​​7,692,024 km². Australia is the sixth largest country in the world by area after Russia, Canada, China, the USA and Brazil, occupying about 5% of the Earth's land surface.

Where should we start studying?(Answers: FGP). Today in the lesson we will get acquainted with the geographical location of the continent of Australia and its relief. Open your notebooks, write down the date and topic of the lesson:"FGP and the relief of Australia" (Slide 3)

- For the next 40 minutes, each of you will become an explorer. What does a novice researcher need?(Initial knowledge, draw up a study and research plan)

- Now let's decide what we should learn in class?

(Goal setting for children):

Sizes of the continent;

Where is the mainland of Australia?

Position in relation to the equator, prime meridian, tropics, neighboring continents;

Extreme points and their coordinates;

Rugged coastline;

The history of the discovery of the continent;

Working with the map.

Learning new material.

Practical work on the map.

Open the physical map of the world. What can you say about the size of the continent of Australia?(The smallest) To find out the exact area of ​​the continent, open the atlas on p. 40 (Table: " General information about continents").(Area - 7 million 614 thousand sq. km).

Now independently determine the geographical location of Australia.

(Slide 4, 5: “Plan for the characteristics of the mainland FGP”) (2 minutes. After - discussion)

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONTINENT.

(students complete the task independently, followed by verification)

Position relative to the equator(slide 5):

Let's remember what the equator is (The equator is an imaginary line drawn on the surface of the Earth, at an equal distance from the poles)

Answer: Relative to the equator, Australia is located in one hemisphere, the southern

Position relative to the tropics

Let's remember what the tropics are (Tropics - parallels 23.5 O With. w. and 23.5 O Yu. sh.)

Answer: Australia is crossed almost in the middle by the southern tropic.

Position relative to the prime meridian

Let's remember what a meridian is? Which meridian do we call the prime meridian?

Answer: A meridian is an imaginary line drawn along the surface of the Earth from the North Pole to South Pole. The prime meridian is called the 0 meridian, or Greenwich, or London

Position relative to other continents

Answer: remote from all continents.

Position regarding oceans and seas

Answer: The Indian Ocean washes the southern and west coast mainland

The Pacific Ocean washes the eastern coast of the continent

North coast washes the Arafura Sea, Timor Sea; the southeast coast is washed by the Coral Sea; the northeast coast is washed by the Tasman Sea

Coastline: peninsulas and islands, bays(Slide 6)

7. Extreme points of the mainland: (Slide 7)

(Students determine independently for assessment)

North - M. York 10 S. 142 E.

South - M. South East Point 39 S 146 E

Western - M. Steep Point 26 S. 113 E.

Eastern - M. Byron 28 S. 153 E.

Define geographical coordinates extreme points of Australia:(Slide 8)

Conclusions about FGP:

Australia is located in 2 hemispheres, southern and eastern

Australia is crossed almost in the middle by the South Tropic, i.e. climate – hot and dry

Australia is remote from other continents

Australia's coastline is slightly indented

The mainland's GP is decisive.

-Now let’s find out how, when and by whom the continent of Australia was discovered and studied. (Slide - 9-17) .

(students fill out the table during the lesson)

History of the discovery and exploration of Australia.

Geographers of the ancient world believed that in the southern hemisphere there should be a huge continent - Terra Australis Incognita, which balances the vast expanses of land in the northern hemisphere. This continent was discovered by the Dutch.

The honor of discovering Australia belongs to the Dutch navigator

Willem Janszoon.On the ship "Dufken" in 1605 he crossed the Gulf of Carpentaria

and explored 320 km of coastline in the north of the mainland.

In 1606, the Spanish navigator Torres passed through the strait between New Guinea and Australia.The strait is named after him - Torres Strait.

In the first half of the 17th century. The northern, western, and southwestern coasts of the mainland were known. Abel Tasman's sea voyages were of great importance.Dutch navigatorpassed in 1642-1643South of Australia and discovered the islands, later named Tasmania and New Zealand. In 1644 he explored the northwestern coast of the mainland. (Listen to a student report about the tripAbel Tasman)

In 1770, an English navigator James Cook discovered the east coast

Australia, Great Barrier Reef, completing the discovery of Australia.

(Listen to the student’s report on the tripJamesACookA).

Irish traveler Robert O'Hara Burke in 1861 he was the first to cross Australia from south to north. He died on the way back.

Scottish explorer John Stewart, crossed the continent twice from south to north in 1862. He made a great contribution to the study of the central regions of Australia.

Russian scientistMiklouho-Maclay Nikolai Nikolaevichin the 1870s he studied the life, customs, and religious rites of the aborigines (Papuans) New Guinea

Assignment: Fill out the table “Study of the Australian mainland”

Researcher

Study area

PHYSMINUTE

Consolidation of what has been learned. ( Slide 19)

Task: Mark on the contour map: the extreme points of the continent, seas, oceans washing the territory, the largest islands and peninsulas.

Lesson summary. (Slide 20)

Quiz: Geographical location of Australia

End of form

Beginning of the form

Question No. 1

Australia is the most:

Small
Southern
Rugged
Remote

Question No. 2

Australia is washed by the oceans:

Pacific and Atlantic
Quiet and Arctic
Atlantic and Indian
Pacific and Indian

Question No. 3

Mainland Australia is entirely located:

In the southern hemisphere
In the northern hemisphere
In the Western Hemisphere
IN eastern hemisphere

Question No. 4

Who discovered Australia:

Dutch
English
Spaniards
Russians

Question No. 5

Which parallel crosses Australia in the middle:

Equator
Northern Tropic
South Tropic
Southern Arctic Circle.End of form

-Which continent did you meet?

-What features of the mainland do you remember?

-Who explored the mainland?

VI . Homework: (Slide 21)

- paragraph 28

- apply to contour map FGP objects and landforms of Australia;

- *report about one of the travelers - the discoverers of Australia;

VII .Reflection. (Slide 22)

So, friends, it's time to say goodbye.
And I want to wish you:
Always willing to learn,
Always willing to work.
And never lose heart.

ANNEX 1

Card#1

Assignment: make a description of the continent of Africa according to plan:

Plan

A) Position relative to the equator. (In which hemisphere is the continent located, does it intersect with the equator)

B) Position relative to the prime meridian (hemisphere, whether it crosses the continent).

B) The extreme points of the continent.

D) What oceans and seas wash them.

E) What continents is it connected to (canal, sea, lake, etc.)

E) Climatic zones of the continent

G) Relief features: maximum and minimum height. (large landforms).

H) Water resources Africa: rivers, lakes. (which basin the rivers belong to).

I) Natural areas of the continent.

K) Large countries in Africa.

APPENDIX 2

Testing on a computer “Generalization on Africa”.

Rules for working with the resource: Carefully read the question and answer options, only one of them is correct.

Enter the number of the correct answer in the yellow cell after the question and be sure to press the "Enter" key.

After answering all questions, go to the sheet with the titleresult and see your rating.

(to get the mark “5” you must give at least 9 correct answers, to get the mark “4” 7-8 correct answers,

for mark "3" there are 5-6 correct answers, and for mark "2" - less than 5 correct answers)

question #1

At the base of most of the continent is:

1)

platform

2)

folded areas

enter the number of the correct answer

question number 2

The more elevated part of Africa is:

1)

northern and western

2)

southern and eastern

enter the number of the correct answer

question number 3

Minerals of sedimentary origin (coal, oil, gas) are located:

1)

mainly in the northern part of the mainland

2)

in the southern part

enter the number of the correct answer

question number 4

The maximum amount of precipitation in Africa falls:

1)

along the equator

2)

along the southern tropic

3)

along the ocean coasts

enter the number of the correct answer

question number 5

If an African desert is colder in July than in January, then it is a desert:

1)

Sahara

2)

Kalahari

enter the number of the correct answer

question number 6

Africa has the densest river network in the climate zone:

1)

subtropical

2)

tropical

3)

equatorial

enter the number of the correct answer

question number 7

The main reason for the richness and diversity of humid tropical vegetation

forests is:

1)

fertile soils

2)

favorable climate

enter the number of the correct answer

question #8

Antelopes, lions, cheetahs, hippos are found in the area:

1)

savannah

2)

deserts

3)

equatorial forests

enter the number of the correct answer

question number 9

Okapi, tapir, chimpanzee, and leopard are found in the area:

1)

evatorial forests

2)

savannah

3)

deserts

enter the number of the correct answer

question #10

Indigenous people North Africa refers to race:

1)

Mongoloid

2)

Negroid

3)

Caucasian

enter the number of the correct answer

APPENDIX 3

"Crossword