Question

Explain how many ancient and medieval societies forwarded marine science even though they were not specifically addressing issues in marine science.

Answer 1

Ancient and medieval societies contributed to marine science through developments in various fields and their seafaring practices, which required an implicit understanding of marine environments for navigation and trade.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ancient and Medieval Societies' Contribution to Marine Science

Many ancient and medieval societies contributed to marine science indirectly through advancements in other fields such as writing, mathematics, engineering, and astronomy. These societies often needed to understand and predict marine conditions for navigation and trade purposes, which laid the groundwork for marine science. For example, the Minoans developed a merchant marine to trade across the Mediterranean Sea. Advances in nautical archaeology also reveal how societies engaged with the sea, improving our understanding of their marine practices.

The warming of Earth and subsequent retreat of glaciers created new marine environments, prompting ancient humans to exploit marine resources, thus expanding their knowledge of these ecosystems. As seafarers like the Minoans and Mycenaeans became adept in marine navigation, they inevitably learned about tides, currents, and weather patterns. Furthermore, figures like Charles Lyell contributed to the understanding of marine processes through their breakthroughs in geology and natural history, illustrating that many civilizations advanced marine knowledge even when their primary focus was not marine science.

Answer 2

Many ancient and medieval societies advanced marine science through their exploration, trade, and navigation activities, even though they were not specifically addressing issues in marine science. For example, ancient seafaring civilizations such as the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans developed sophisticated navigation techniques, shipbuilding methods, and trade networks that required a deep understanding of the ocean's physical and biological processes. Similarly, medieval societies such as the Vikings and the Chinese developed advanced shipbuilding technologies and navigational instruments that allowed them to explore and trade across vast distances. These activities required knowledge of ocean currents, tides, and weather patterns, which contributed to the development of marine science as a field of study. Additionally, many ancient and medieval societies also recorded observations of marine life, ocean currents, and weather patterns, which provided valuable insights into the ocean's physical and biological processes and helped to advance marine science.

Step-by-step explanation: