The Discovery of New Zealand by the Romans: Unveiling the Hidden History

🗺️New Zealand was discovered by the Romans up to 100 years earlier than previously thought, as evidenced by the presence of New Zealand on the ancient Mercator map.

❓The discovery of New Zealand raises questions about why Rome waited 100 years to acknowledge it and what the Romans were doing in the Pacific region.

🌍The ancient Mercator map was known for its fine design and engraving, and it was created by Gerard Mercator, an important mapmaker of the 16th century.

🧭The absence of Australia on the ancient Mercator map adds to the mystery and raises questions about what the Romans knew about the continent at that time.

🔍Further research is needed to uncover the extent of Roman exploration in the Pacific and to understand their activities in the region.

How was New Zealand discovered by the Romans?

—New evidence suggests that New Zealand was discovered by the Romans in the 16th century, possibly even earlier. The presence of New Zealand on the ancient Mercator map indicates that the Romans had knowledge of the island and its location.

Why did Rome wait 100 years to acknowledge the discovery of New Zealand?

—The reasons behind Rome's delay in acknowledging the discovery of New Zealand are still uncertain. Further research is needed to understand the factors that may have influenced this delay.

What does the absence of Australia on the ancient Mercator map imply?

—The absence of Australia on the ancient Mercator map raises questions about what the Romans knew about the continent at that time. It suggests a gap in their knowledge or possibly intentional omission.

What do we know about Roman exploration in the Pacific region?

—The extent of Roman exploration in the Pacific region is still being investigated. The discovery of New Zealand on the ancient Mercator map suggests that the Romans had a presence in the area, but further research is needed to uncover more details.

What can be concluded from this new evidence?

—The discovery of New Zealand on the ancient Mercator map provides compelling evidence of Roman exploration in the Pacific. It challenges previous beliefs about the timeline of European discovery in the region and raises intriguing questions about the Romans' activities and knowledge in this part of the world.

00:00Between 1500-1550, an ancient map called the Mercator map was published in Rome, which depicts the discovery of New Zealand by the Romans.

00:30The ancient Mercator map features the longitude and latitude coordinates of the two islands of New Zealand.

01:32Gerard Mercator, the creator of the map, was a renowned mapmaker of the 16th century known for his meticulous design and engraving.

02:58Archaeological excavations in New Zealand have revealed the presence of pyramids, suggesting a significant ancient civilization in the region.

03:14Comparing the coordinates on the Mercator map with modern maps confirms that New Zealand was indeed discovered by the Romans.

03:58The absence of Australia on the Mercator map raises questions about the Romans' knowledge of the continent and their activities in the Pacific region.

04:07Further research is needed to fully understand the extent of Roman exploration in the Pacific and the reasons behind their delayed acknowledgement of New Zealand's discovery.

04:43The discovery of New Zealand by the Romans challenges previous beliefs about European exploration in the Pacific and opens up new avenues for investigation.