Alexander the Great would be my choice, or perhaps Admiral Zheng He

Alexander the Great wasn't an explorer but Cook isn't really the most greatest explorer in history. The greatest in the southern pacific yes, but there are others that sailed longer and discovered more, Columbus for one.

Who?

Couldn't work out how to click on the link, huh?

I suck at history so I really couldn't say

I don't consider anyone the greatest explorer in history.... 'cause I don't care

I want to say Sakajawea, because she;s the only female I can think of that comes close to being an exploerer (in earlier times, at least)- not sure if she fits the category though. She was definitely a trailblazer.

On 2008-03-28 21:22:25.19 Absynth wrote: I want to say Sakajawea, because she;s the only female I can think of that comes close to being an exploerer (in earlier times, at least)- not sure if she fits the category though. She was definitely a trailblazer.

So her being female qualifies her as being one of the greatest explorers?

Nah, not her being female. I would just like to see one of our numbers included in the list- I think there are some in modern times, like Sally Ride.

Sure it would be great to have a diverse list of people--but you can't exactly put someone on the list of "greatest explorers" just for the sake of balancing the demographics...

I first read that as Captain James Kirk, and I'm sticking with that reading. Yes.

On 2008-03-28 21:39:34.94 CowDung wrote: Sure it would be great to have a diverse list of people--but you can't exactly put someone on the list of "greatest explorers" just for the sake of balancing the demographics...

I'll grant you that., I don't think social conditions in earlier times were really ripe for women to have the opportunity to join that illustrious list. Perhaps someday a woman will be credited with discovering new natural landmarks on mars or another planet, who knows...

On 2008-03-25 21:51:19.087 Jagger_Boaz wrote: Who?

he discovered Australia..

On 2008-03-28 21:46:57.113 Absynth wrote: On 2008-03-28 21:39:34.94 CowDung wrote: Sure it would be great to have a diverse list of people--but you can't exactly put someone on the list of "greatest explorers" just for the sake of balancing the demographics... I'll grant you that., I don't think social conditions in earlier times were really ripe for women to have the opportunity to join that illustrious list. Perhaps someday a woman will be credited with discovering new natural landmarks on mars or another planet, who knows...

When they do, feel free to add them to the list.

It kinda bothers me how facts are sometimes distorted in order to be "more inclusive"...

I can understand your latter comment.
This discussion made me wonder if there ever were any really notable female explorers in the past...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrie...

Interesting link--I had not heard of her before...

Amelia Earhart is generally the first female explorer that comes to mind for me...

http://www.wingsworldquest.org/cgi-...

She came up in my websearch but I chose the less well-known one. I always thought of Amelia as simply an aviator and not an explorer, so that link is interesting.

I remember reading a story in gradeschool from Emelia's early life, she made her own roller coaster ride in a barn. Guess she always liked thrills!

On 2008-03-28 21:50:18.127 Sammy wrote: On 2008-03-25 21:51:19.087 Jagger_Boaz wrote: Who? he discovered Australia..

Thats not strictly true. I would consider the Aboriginies to be the ones to have that honour. He wasnt even the first European or even the first Englishman to 'discover' Australia.

I was always a Magellan fan. Around the world, baby!

If you want to talk about women explorers look up Ida Pfeiffer (modern) and also Saint Helena of Constantinople (ancient roman).

There were many great explorers from Europe and you really could argue all day as to who was the greatest. Columbus made 5 voyages to the Americas and he opened up the race to claim new lands and help plunder gold for Spain. Amerigo Vespucci who explored up and down the Americas (hint the name), Cabot who explored Canada and DeGama who was the first to venture out and sail around africa to India. James Cook was one of my favorites though most likely he would be in top 3 for myself. He made 3 trips from England into the pacific and did the most detailed mapping and studies of other cultures. His was more scientific instead of pursuit to fame and greed. he was the first to regulate strict diets among his crew feedinf citrus and saurkraut to prevent scurvy. he brought back many new fruits to Europe. He was the first to sail around Antartica and the first to land on New Zealand.

many now know today as Hawaii. is journals a highly valued by science as they contained first written accounts on cultural lifes of Polynesians, botany, cartography, and astronomy. Geez the more I say the more I begin to think he should be #1. How far and great would this man would had been had he not been killed so young in Hawaii.
BTW a little trivia. Did you know that the Captain Cook monument is the only foreign soil still owned by England in the Americas?

Well since he discovered the country I was born in and live in I'd say yes, he is.