Night+Of+The+Notables


 * Abel Tasman

Cultrural Heritage = Dutch Occupation = Explorer and navigator Spouse = Claesgie Meyndrix and Joanna Tiercx Children = One girl Died = 10 of October 1659 (aged 59)

Abel Tasman was the first European explorer to reach the islands of Van Diemens Land and New Zealand. Abel Tasman was born in the Netherlands in Ibos. He became a skilled navigator and sailed ships for the Dutch East India company. In 1642 he sailed from Jakarta with two small ships and about one hundred men.

He hoped to find a southern route to South America so that the Dutch could attack their enemy the Spanish, and he hoped to find valuable spices and precious metals for the Dutch merchants. The names of his ships were Heemskerck and Zeehaen. On his voyage he discvered Tasmania and named it Van Diemens Land, after the Dutch governor- general.

Continuing his voyage, Tasman sighted New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji before returning to Jakarta in 1643. His navigation of Australia proved that it was an island, not part of some great southern continent. In 1644 Tasman sailed again from Jakarta and sailed the australian coast from Cape York to North-West Cape.

In later years Tasman became a wealthy merchant in Jakarta, where he died in 1659. He has a lot of things named after him like the Tasman Sea, the Tasman Highway, Tasmania, Tasman National Park, Tasman Peninsula and Tasman Island.

Questions 1. Why did Abel Tasman go on his two voyages?2. What did Tasman hope to find on his voyages?3. What things were named after Tasman?4. Why did Tasman leave on a second voyage?5. What did Tasman have two ships?6. Where and when did Abel Tasman die?7. Who did Tasman name Van Diemens Land after and why?8. Why couldn't Tasman go past Cape York on his second voyage?9. How long did Tasmans first journey last?10. Why did Tasman become a wealthy merchant? || `Tasman National Park



Tasmania. || This is the route of Abel Tasman's voyages to map out New Holland. (now Australia)

 Bibliography Cramer, Debby (1985) //Australian Explorers// Macmillan Australia Australian History: Abel (2012)Tasman' [Online] Available [] (June 4th 2012)

From Ms D ||