What came next was to be a voyage of discovery, traveling through millennia of ancient history, overlaid by a thin veil of modernity. It promises to be a fascinating unfolding tale about the occupation of the Mediterranean Basin and its lands through history, ancient and recent. The fortifications, the ruins, sometimes the language and customs, tell the story of the living ‘Game of Thrones’.
 |
| Top: The Empire of Alexander the Great (Alexancer III of Macedonia) Bottom: Roman Empire |
It could have started with Alexander the Great, but it didn’t. By the age of 30, however, he had created one of the largest empires in history, stretching from Greece, the eastern Mediterranwan countries and the Levantine to northwestern India and Central Asia. He was undefeated in battle and is widely considered to be one of history's greatest and most successful military commanders. The Empire lasted until 323 BC when he died. Following his death civil wars brought out across the empire. The Roman Empire followed in 27 BC. Its western empire collapsed in 476 AD but the eastern (Byzantium) empire lasted until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Enter the Ottoman Empire which survived from C14 to C20.
 |
| Top: The Vikings Routes . Bottom: Ottoman Empire |
During those times, others lusted for land and domination, traveling through the lands looting and colonising - the Phoenicians, Arabs, Genoese, Genghis Khan, Timur, the Vikings, the Visigoths ….. and so it went and on it goes. At the same time others were focused on knowledge and trade - the Chinese traveled to distance places, forming alliances. But to our small odyssey …..For over seven weeks we traveled through the Mediterranean sailing nine of its dozen seas and visiting 25 of its islands and many shores. Our travels to Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily, the Aeolian Islands and Malta will form the first chapter of our Mediterranean explorations..
 |
| The region we traversed before going north and then west |
No comments:
Post a Comment