Warming upWarming upUnit2the Arctic Oceanthe Indian Oceanthe Pacific Oceanthe Atlantic Ocean What is the difference between a navigator and an explorer? What is the difference between a navigator and an explorer?Navigator seanautical instrumentsfind new islands or continentsNavigator is somebody who finds the position and plots the course of a ship using maps and instruments.Explorerlanduse of compass and landmarksfind new places within an already identified island or continentExplorer is somebody who travels into or through a place in order to learn about it.Very often navigators are also explorers. In the year between 1405 and 1433, seven large treasure fleets sailed westwards on voyages of trade and exploration. Under the command of Zheng He, the fleets set sail from the South China Sea across the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea, and then traveled further south, discovering the eastern coast of Africa. He renewed relations with the Kingdoms of the East African coast. One African king sent the Ming emperor a royal present: two giraffes. About 700 years ago a young trader from Italy took a long trip to Cathay. Cathay is known as China today. He went with his father and uncle, who had traveled there once before. They stayed in China for about two decades. The young man's name was Marco Polo. He was liked by the leader in China at the time. He knew four languages and traveled around the kingdom for the leader. When Marco Polo returned to Italy, he dictated his story to a writer. He told of the Chinese postal system, paper money, and the use of coal as fuel. James Cook James Cook (1728-1779) was the greatest Britain navigator. Cook enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1755. In 1768 he was promot...
