Age of European Discovery

 

 I. Overview

         A. Spanish (16th century)

                  purpose = control & convert

         B. Dutch (17th century)

                  purpose = trade & profit

         C. English & French (18th century)

                  purpose = expand knowledge & commerce

II. Early Explorers (Spanish)

         A. Magellan (1519-21)

                  1. in context of Spain--Portugal rivalry

                           a) Spice Islands of East Indies

                           b) Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)

                  2. accomplishments

                           a) first to circumnavigate the globe

                           b) ÒdiscoveredÓ Guam & Marianas (1521)

                                    -- named Los Ladrones = ÒIsland of ThievesÓ

                  3. in his wake

                           a) Spain claimed Guam & Philippines (1565)

                           b) dangerous trade route (Acapulco-- Manila)

                                    -- giant clockwise circuit

                                    -- sited Hawai`i (named La Mesa)

         B. Searching for Terra Australis

                  1. Medana (1567-68) -- found Solomon islands

                  2. Quiros (1605-06) -- found New Hebrides

III. Later Explorers

         A. Dutch

                  1. Tasman (1642) -- found New Zealand

                  2. Roggeveen (1722) -- found Easter Island

         B. Tahiti ÒdiscoveredÓ

                  1. British -- Wallis (1767-68)

                  2. French -- Bougainville (1766-69)

         C. Captain James Cook

                  1. 1st Voyage (1768 - 1771)

                           a) purpose = observe transit of Venus

                                    -- transport natural scientists

                                    -- search for southern continent

                           b) accomplishments

                                    -- charted New Zealand & Australian coasts

                           c) artist = Sydney Parkinson

                  2. 2nd Voyage (1772 - 1775)

                           a) purpose = search for Southern Continent

                           b) accomplishments

                                    -- crossed Antarctic Circle

                                    -- ÒdiscoveredÓ New Caledonia

                                    -- relocated & confirmed other island locations

                           c) artist = William Hodges

                  3. 3rd Voyage (1776 - 1780)

                           a) purpose = search for Northwest Passage

                           b) accomplishments

                                    -- "discovered" Sandwich Islands (i.e. Hawai`i)

                                    -- mapped west coast to Bering Strait

                           c) artist = John Webber

III. Dynamics of Contact

         A. Two views: romantic or tragic

         B. Two themes: Eurocentric or Island-centered

         C. Rituals of possession: European & Islander

         D. Myths: technology & change

 

 

 

Think/Write Questions

Considering their limited technology and the fact that they were venturing into unknown waters, do you respect the Europeans who explored the Pacific?

 

Do you think the early European explorers were accurate in their descriptions and depictions of Pacific islanders?