Enlightenment and Exploration in the North Pacific 1741-1805

<p>Saluting an era of adventure and knowledge seeking fifteen original essays consider the motivations of European explorers of the Pacific the science and technology of 18th-century exploration and the significance of Spanish French and British voyages. Among the topics discussed are the quest by enlightenment scientists for new species of plant and animal life and their fascination with Native cultures; advances in shipbuilding navigation medicine and diet that made extended voyages possible; and the lasting significance of the explorers’ collections artworks and journals.</p>