The astonishing history and complex legacy of Captain James Cook. With three Pacific voyages in just eleven years, he helped shape the modern world through pioneering cartography, navigation and science.
In July 1776, Captain James Cook embarked on his third (and final) voyage to the Pacific. Ostensibly, it was to return Omai, a Polynesian whose famous Joshua Reynolds portrait hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, to his homeland. But, in the process, he searched for the fabled Northwest Passage, reached Hawai’i (the first European to do so), and built on the successes of his first two voyages: the first, when he tracked the Transit of Venus, mapped New Zealand and Australia’s east coast, and identified unique flora and fauna (such as the kangaroo); the second, when he searched (in vain) for Terra Australis Incognita.
This course considers how Cook shaped the modern world during these voyages. It starts with an introduction to Britain and the world in his lifetime (1728-1779), a review of his early life in Yorkshire, and an assessment of his first years in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years’ War. It then charts Cook’s three voyages, considers his scientific collaboration with Joseph Banks, his role with John Harrison in solving the problem of longitude, and his final days in Hawai’i. Finally, it looks at Cook’s lasting impact, reflects on his interactions with indigenous peoples, analyses his astonishing cartographical and navigational achievements, and tackles the challenging legacy of empire.
This course is part of the Oxford University Summer School for Adults (OUSSA) programme.