Russian Voyages to Alaska
At a glance:
- Series: Great Events from History: North American Series
- Categories: Science, Land Acquisition and Expansion, Territory Redistribution, Discovery, Exploration, Geography
- Subcategories: Colonialism, Colonies, Settlements, Ships, Naval History, Explorers
- Curriculum: American Colonial History (1607-1775), 18th Century European History, Russian/Former Soviet States History, Canadian History
- Geographical Location: Russia, Asia, Alaska, Arctic
- Date: July, 1728-1769
Article abstract: Russian scientific excursions and occupation of the northern Pacific region, heralding later settlement.
Summary of Event
After a cossack discovered the Chukotskiy peninsula—the easternmost “nose” of Siberia—in 1648, reports about Alaskan fur traders led people to believe that water divided America from Asia. The German philosopher Gottfried Leibniz convinced Czar Peter I in 1716 to send an expedition eastward to confirm its existence. Peter undoubtedly was interested for scientific and imperial reasons, but also because...
[The entire page is 1558 words long]