Backbencher

Lecture three focused on discovery and exploration in Australia and New Zealand. The first person we talked about was J.C. Beaglehole who was an English historian that had three criteria for heroic exploration. He felt that seamanship, leadership, and knowledge were at the core of any great discovery. We talked about many different explorers that made a difference in the discovery of the new lands. Ferdinand Magellan began the exploration of the South Pacific, followed by Abel Tasman in the mid 1600s which brought more detailed information about Australia and New Zealand. James Cook voyage in the late 1700s was important because it resulted in English colonization and fulfilled Beaglehole’s theme of heroic exploration.

I agree with others that said the most interesting part of the class was the discussion about how it is hard to report history without bias. Personally I think it is important for a historian to first give the facts and tell the history with little or no emotion first. Then once the audience has a background of the story being told, and has their own opinion it is important for that historian to tell their own opinion. For example, when reading about the Holocaust, the facts should be given like how many were killed, by who, and when it took place. Once the reader has all the important information it is ok for the writer to say it was a horrible event in history.