This is the story of the commencement of discovery of the world outside Europe in the fifteenth century. In early times, the world was believed to be flat and consisted of ocean that surrounded Europe.
There was a sea in the centre that was the middle of the earth and still known as the Mediterranean Sea ( med-middle, terra-the earth).
Sailors were afraid to venture into the unknown ocean where there were fierce currents, whirl pools and sea monsters. They believed that ships that ventured too far may fall off the edge of the planet and float forever through space.
The edge of the earth could be seen from Cape St Vincent in the South West Corner of Portugal and Cape Bojador on the North-East corner of Africa.
But that all changed in the 15th century with Prince Henry of Portugal who was determined to have his nation explore down the coast of Africa. He wanted to find a sea route to India.
THE AGE OF DISCOVERY: HENRY THE NAVIGATOR
Before the Age of Discovery, the world ended at Cape St Vincent.
It was a piece of land that jutted into the sea in South-West Portugal.
Before the Age of Discovery, the world ended at Cape St Vincent, a
piece of land that jutted into the sea in South-West Portugal.
For centuries, men stood there.
They gazed at the horizon.
This is where they believed that life ended.
A wild sea waited for those who ventured too far.
For centuries, men stood there and gazed at the horizon
to where they believed that life ended and a wild sea waited
for those who ventured too far.
In 1419, a young Portuguese prince stood at Cape St Vincent.
He saw the horizon differently.
It filled him with fascination.
It filled him with an urge.
He wanted to know what lay beyond.
In 1419, a young Portuguese prince stood at Cape St Vincent
and saw the horizon differently, filling him with fascination
and an urge to know what lay beyond.
Prince Henry urged navigators to round Cape Bojador.
It was on the North-West corner of Africa.
This was in spite of their fear.
They feared that winds and currents might prevent their return.
Prince Henry urged navigators to round Cape Bojador on the
North-West corner of Africa in spite of their fear that winds
and currents might prevent their return.
Mariners said that beyond the Cape there was no race of men.
There was no water.
There were no trees.
The seas were shallow.
Mariners said that beyond the Cape there was no race of men.
nor water or trees and the seas were shallow.
Mariners said that beyond the Cape there was no race of men.
nor water or trees with seas that were shallow.
The currents were terrible.
Ships were prevented from returning.
Sailors would be lost forever.
They would be trapped in the sea of death.
The currents were terrible with ships prevented from returning
and sailors lost forever, trapped in the sea of death.
The currents were terrible, preventing ships from returning
with sailors lost forever, trapped in the sea of death.
The years passed.
Captains told of unseen horror.
There were monsters.
There were fierce currents.
These trapped ships.
These sent sailors to their deaths.
The years passed while Captains told of unseen horror
of monsters and fierce currents that trapped ships and
sent sailors to their deaths.
The years passed with Captains telling of unseen horror
of monsters and fierce currents that trapped ships and
sent sailors to their deaths.
For 50 years, Portuguese ships sailed from home harbours.
The Cape of Good Hope was rounded in 1434.
They established ports and forts on the way.
For 50 years, Portuguese ships sailed from home harbours
with the Cape of Good Hope rounded in 1434 and ports and
forts established on the way.
A passage to India was the long term plan.
It was pursued by Henry the Navigator.
Africa itself was the goal through most of the century.
A passage to India was the long term plan pursued by Henry
the Navigator though Africa itself was the goal through most
of the century.
The ships sailed past the great desert.
It had been seen as the end of the earth.
Fears faded as sailors saw the lush green jungles.
These lined the coastline in the south.
The ships sailed past the great desert that had been seen as
the end of the earth with fears fading as sailors saw lush
green jungles lining the coastline in the south.
On Henry’s death in 1460, ships had pushed to the Gambia River.
They added 2000 miles of African coastline.
They commencing the route to India.
It was yet to come.
On Henry’s death in 1460, ships had pushed to the Gambia River,
adding 2000 miles of African coastline and commencing the route
to India that was yet to come.
Since this is an English lesson, not a history lesson, the key focus is the writing skill. The historical content is only for general knowledge and the scenario through which the students learn to write. There is to be no assessment and grading of historical knowledge.
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