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Mediterranean History & Trade Routes
A SOCIALS STUDIES PROJECT BY MRS. BRUCKER'S GRADE SEVEN
STUDENTS
Introduction by LaCara, Maria, Kellie, and Angela
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| The Mediterranean Sea once was a dry, deep valley, about five
million years ago. The Mediterranean Sea divided three continents;
Europe, Africa, and Asia, until a catastrophe happened. A
catastrophic break was made in the retaining wall of the seas
bottom, which kept out the Atlantic Ocean in the west, towards
present-day Gibraltar. A huge cascade of water flooded the whole
Mediterranean basin, this process lasted many, many years, and that
is when a new Sea was born. |
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Looking closer to the “New Sea”, Scientists find that it is
formed by a number of Seas: the Alboran, the Gulf of Lione, the
Tirrhennian Sea, the Lonian Sea, the Aegean Sea, etc, each with
their own characteristics. The Mediterranean Sea is a very deep sea,
from 3000 to 4000metres depth. This allows several types of whales
and other animals to thrive there, such as swordfish, dolphins and
tuna, which are sometimes encountered by modern yachts during their
cruises. |
The climate is mild and temperate and it is
influenced by hot and dry air from the Sahara in the summer.
The Mediterranean Sea
covers approximate area of 970,000 square miles.
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The ancient Romans named the Mediterranean Sea.
(Mare internum or mare nostrum) which means "Sea in the middle
of the earth". The Mediterranean Sea was the first Sea used by
the explorers and traders. The Phoenicians sailed along the coast of
the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. They explored the
coastlines of Northern and Western Africa. It was also believed that
they went as far North as the British Isles. These ancient mariners
were responsible for some of the early maps of the region. They
recorded landmarks coastal features, which resulted in smoother,
safer passages for ships. These records were called periplus (for
sailing around). The oldest of these ancient records was written by
Scylax who was in the service of Darius the Great, Persian emperor
of the sixth century B.C. He described sailing directions, days of
voyages, areas of favorable wind, and favorable weather. It was hard
to provide an accurate picture of the coast because mapping
techniques were primitive. The shortest, safest passage from one
port to another was kept as a valuable state secret because trade
opportunities enriched countries and promoted empires. |
Mariners who sailed the Mediterranean had to learn how
to mark latitude. They could estimate the latitude by using a polar
star. If they were too far south they would use an astrolabe or
quadrant to measure the altitude of the sun. They also relied on
dead reckoning, which was guessing the course and distance tracked.
So sailing in the Mediterranean Sea meant that people relied on
personal experience, familiar landmarks and local winds and
currents. Leaving the Mediterranean Sea and traveling farther out in
the Atlantic was hazardous and scary. |
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Sailing the
Mediterranean Sea allowed ancient people to explore and discover new
waterways to other European and Asian sites. The science of
cartography first flourished in this sea. Mapmakers and geographers
became important members of society.
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