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) “discovered” Guam & Marianas (1521)

-- named Los Ladrones = “Island of Thieves”

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 “discovered”

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

-- “discovered” 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