Explorations of the pacific Flashcards
Why was Captain James Cook important?
He was most important in opening up the area to European contact
Give some information about Captain Cook’s First voyage - 1768-1771.
Sailed on the Endeavour. Took with him naturalists, and illustrators. The purpose was to find the Great Southern Continent
Who was the local guide that Captain Cook brought with him on his first voyage?
Tupaia - Polynesian navigator and ceremonialists. He was a great navigator and had a talent for incorporating local knowledge. He explained seasonal reversal of the westerly winds. Regarded as the Admiral of the Endeavour, by Maori
Why is Tupaia often overlooked?
Research relied on European accounts, and Polynesia had an oral history
What was the mission of Cook’s second voyage? (1772-75)
To find the Great Southern Continent, which they disproved. Cook took with him botanists and artists as well.
What were some of the achievements of Cook’s second voyage?
Verified the frozen world of Antarctica, sailing at the farthest Southern latitudes
Who was Omai?
Ra’iatean exile, was Cook’s interpreter for his second and third voyages.
What influence did Omai have?
He inspired philosophical and political debates, and inspired plays. Coincided with Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s debate: as to whether man in his natural state was superior to civilised man
What was the aim of Cook’s third voyage? (1776-79)
To return Omai, and find the North West passage to allow passage from the Atlantic to the pacific
When did Cook ‘discover’ Hawaii?
1778 - locals were friendly and he was able to replenish supplies. However, they overstayed their welcome and Cook took the King as a hostage
What happened to Captain Cook?
Fighting broke out due to the kidnapping of their King, Cook’s body was dismembered and distributed among the Chiefs and crew
What did Cook’s death signal?
A change in European attitudes. From the Edenic image of the Pacific to one of corrupted innocence, savagery and opportunity. Cook was one of the keys to colonial expansion
What are the three types of cultural encounter?
Contact- when the Europeans and non-Europeans come into contact with each other
Collision- hostility mainly occurred when ‘natives’ felt as if their way of life was being attacked
Relationship- this was dependent on supply and demand- helped to establish some trade
Give an example of when contact turned into collision.
Virginia Massacre of 1622- 300 Europeans were killed
The main area of conflict was because the land was seized, these attacks provided colonists with a pretext for opening systematic hostilities against indigenous peoples
Why were missionaries sometimes able to develop relationships?
Created an atmosphere of mutual trust, and reduced tensions between ‘natives’ and colonists. They sometimes had links with the political authorities.
