Celestial Navigation
The Age of Discovery, or the Age of Exploration, is not without its controversies. Many of the lands ‘discovered’ were already populated with people whose cultures and traditions the explorers did not understand. These nations were mapped and documented into the body of knowledge of Western Europe. Armed men followed, planting flags, claiming territory and bringing devastating exposure to disease. The ‘shore to ship’ perspective of history has developed since Australia’s bicentennial celebrations of 1988 and is a welcome rebalance from the one-sided view of history that was once taught. Stories of first contact are reinterpreted and reassessed, adding also to our understanding of ‘ship to shore’ with the absolute command of a captain at sea and the extraordinary risks taken by crews venturing into the unknown. Despite the controversies, the achievements of these explorers in circumnavigating the globe and charting vast oceans remain remarkable. They navigated perilous waters, faced un...
