Connect plus. Primary 6. Term 2. Unit 5. Go explore. Lesson 1.Page 4 Exercise 2

  

Famous navigators

Ahmad Ibn Majid

Have you heard about Ahmad Ibn Majid? He is the person who made it easier for us to travel on the sea today. Ibn Majid was the first Arab seaman, and he learned how to navigate the seas. "Navigate" means "to find your way around."

Ahmad Ibn Majid lived hundreds of years ago. He was born in 1432, in what is now Oman. As a child, he was fascinated by the sea. He loved to listen to stories about sailing from his father and grandfather, who were great sailors. They also had their own ships. Before Ibn Majid was born, his dad and grandfather sailed the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Ibn Majid wanted to explore the seas and oceans, too. At the young age of seven, he went on his first journey on the sea.

Ibn Majid was a very intelligent man and studied a lot. He learned languages, and learned about math, geography, and astronomy. Astronomy was important because the stars at night helped sailors to find their way. Ibn Majid's studies helped him understand the winds, the monsoons, and the stars in the sky.

As he got older, Ibn Majid became known as a master navigator. He used a compass, but when he saw it could work better on the seas, he improved the design. It was then more reliable for sailors to use.

Over the years, Ibn Majid wrote 38 books describing what he knew. Some of his books had information about routes to different places, and some described the history of sailing. They helped sailors travel from the Arabian Peninsula to India, East Africa, and other places. He even wrote poems!

Across the world, Ahmad Ibn Majid is still famous. His books have helped many sailors for hundreds of years. With Ibn Majid's help, we can all travel safely on the seas.

9