Dutch navigator Abel Tasman becomes the first
European explorer to sight the South Pacific island group now known as
New Zealand. In his sole attempt to land, several of Tasman's crew were
killed by warriors from a South Island tribe, who interpreted the
Europeans' exchange of trumpet signals as a prelude to battle. A few
weeks earlier, Tasman had discovered Tasmania, off the southeast coast
of Australia. Tasman had named the island Van Diemen's Land, but, like
the Tasman Sea between New Zealand and Australia, it was later renamed
Tasmania in the explorer's honor.
New Zealand, named after the Dutch province of Zeeland, did not attract much additional European attention until the late 18th century, when English explorer Captain James Cook traveled through the area and wrote detailed accounts of the islands. Whalers, missionaries, and traders followed, and in 1840 Britain formally annexed the islands and established New Zealand's first permanent European settlement at Wellington.
Taken from: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tasman-discovers-new-zealand [13.12.2012]
New Zealand, named after the Dutch province of Zeeland, did not attract much additional European attention until the late 18th century, when English explorer Captain James Cook traveled through the area and wrote detailed accounts of the islands. Whalers, missionaries, and traders followed, and in 1840 Britain formally annexed the islands and established New Zealand's first permanent European settlement at Wellington.
Taken from: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tasman-discovers-new-zealand [13.12.2012]
No comments:
Post a Comment