Wednesday 13 April 2011

Australia and The Enlightenment


 
The Age of Discovery began with the invention of the Caravel in the 15th century, with legendary voyages undertaken by Portuguese and Spanish explorers.  What drove these navigators was commerce and the prospect of untold overseas riches.  By the mid 17th century, Portugal and Spain were profiting from commercial trade between their colonies in South America and Asia.  At this time, there was a belief that vast amounts of wealth could be attained from the unknown Great Southern Land.  This idea is mirrored in the instructions allocated to Abel Tasman, by the Dutch East India Company.   Tasman was ordered to locate the land to the South of Batavia and take possession of what he found, as it was believed commercial gains could be expected from the territory.  What Tasmen eventially located, was modern day Tasmania and New Zealand.

S.J. Jones' glass lantern slide of Cook's famous ship 'The Endeavour' (date unknown), depicts the ship off the coast on New Zealand.  Following his navigation of the East coast of Australia, Cook preceded to chart he islands of New Zealand which had been discovered by Abel Tasman decades before. (Source: State Library of Victoria)
Conversely,  Cook who famously mapped the East Coast of Australia was ordered to the Great Southern Land (at that time known as New Holland) to do so for purposes of science rather than solely for profit.  An analysis of the orders handed down by the Admiralty show a great emphasis on Cook noting in detail the flora and fauna present, as well as the climate and fertility of the soil. 

These orders demonstrate the impact The Age of Enlightenment had had on English notables at the time.  Such detailed analysis of the globe was a direct result of the Enlightenment period, as it brought people to challenge conventional norms and seek more knowledge about the earth.  Historian Clark argues that at the time many felt they knew nothing about the world as the Age of Enlightenment had caused many to doubt the role God played in the world and its creation.  People sought new answers to questions about the globe that had previously been attributed to the work of God.  

Throughout the documentation from the Royal Society, it is clear that an innate belief existed that hostility towards the native people was unjustifiable and essentially a crime.  Likewise, the society suggested to Cook that orders should be given to his men that ensured they were hospitable towards the natives and warned of the power of English weaponry.

This detailed description of what should be done once at New Holland suggested the English had a large interest in the Continent.  However, based on this evidence alone it cannot be concluded that Cook’s expedition was solely for scientific means.  Former Premier of New South Wales Sir Joseph Carruthers, in his biography of the life of Captain Cook, written 150 years after his death suggested there were further reasons for the voyage to the South.  Currathers argued Cook was sent secretly to New Holland for several reasons, firstly to prevent the French from establishing a new colony to make up for the loss of their prized Canadian possession.  Secondly he conveyed a view that Britain was in search of colonies to replace those lost in the Americas.  There was also a belief at the time, amongst some Englishmen that land to the South had untold riches, Dalrymple, the hydrographer of the British Navy believed New Holland had a population of 50 million, and was far wealthier than the American Colonies.  This potential for commercial and military advantages can therefore be argued as motivating factors for the Cook expedition.
This drawing by Thomas Medland from 1789, is one of the earliest European images of the Aboriginal Australians, the Aboriginals are presented in a manner more closely associated with Greek or Roman mythology.  (Source: State Library of Victoria)
Included in Cook’s account of his voyage to New Holland was the earliest documentation of the Australian native.  Cook reflected on the Australian Aboriginals in a positive manner.  He was impressed by their physique and gentle nature, and commented on traits such as the shelters they had erected across the coastline.   Cook’s descriptions of the natives are in stark contrast to interpretations made by latter Europeans of the Aboriginal Australians.  Later views entailed much hostility, as Aboriginal Australians were described as savages by many early settlers. This negative perception of Australian natives permeates throughout Australian history and in many respects still exists in Australian society today.


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