History of Geographical Discoveries I

general courses

Classroom

This class presents topics from the process of widening of geographical horizon: from the Ancient era till the end of the Age of Discoveries.

This lectures aims at showing stages, directions and ways of discovering the world. It shows the changes (widening) of perceiving the world by different nations from the Antiquity till 15th Century. Various factors stimulating the process of discovery are presented, as well as specific expeditions and the profiles of the discoverers themselves (in chronological order). The characteristic of each stage of discovering the world begins from a short introduction - reviewing the basic information of a level of exploration of the world (in a given moment), political factors, level of socio-economic development (technological capacities) and the independence from the natural factors.

The presentations of expeditions use primary sources in form of diaries, descriptions of travels, maps and sketches; they also include discussion of reactions of contemporaries to a discovery of new lands or new civilizations.

Additionally, during the lectures the obstacles that a discoverer - a traveller past the boundaries of the known world - had to face are also presented.

1. D.J. Boorstin, Odkrywcy dzieje ludzkich odkryć i wynalazków; 2001.

2. K. Farrington, Największe podboje i wyprawy świata;

3. L. Bergreen, Poza krawędź świata; 2005.

4. P. Małyszko, Wielkie podróże; 2007.

5.T. Słabczyński, Encyklopedia odkryć i odkrywców; 2004.

After passing this course a student:

KNOWLEDGE:

1. knows the most important stages of widening the geographical horizon2

2. knows the profiles of the main discoverers - travellers

3. knows the primary cartographic sources documenting the knowledge about the world

SKILLS:

1. is able to explain the causes and effects of main expeditions

ATTITUDE

1. judges the character of travellers

2. judges credibility, bias and reliability of descriptions of newly-discovered lands

Oral exam. Term paper (essay-format) for a prescribed topic. Grade for the term paper is also influenced by the illustrations (maps) to such.