Details

When: Wednesdays, Feb 1 – Feb 22 10:00 am – noon

Where: The Hampton Inn

Cost: $135.00 for 4 session(s)

Type: In Person

Category:

Instructor: Richard A. Cosgrove University Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Arizona and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
Richard A. Cosgrove

In the past five centuries Great Britain, a tiny group of islands in northwestern Europe, expanded its power and influence that culminated in its nineteenth-century empire. There are many people and ideas that contributed to this process. Among the contributors to this global effort were individuals who set out to explore territories that lay beyond the grasp of British sovereignty. Some had idealistic motives white others were scoundrel and villains. Some gained wealth and honors, while others died in their endeavors. Some sought riches, and others were civilians moved by an adventurous spirit. Embark on an armchair journey of discovery with this group of intrepid adventurers from Sir Francis Drake to Captain James Cook and more.

Week 1: The Elizabethan Sea Dogs – Sir Francis Drake
In the sixteenth century the most iconic individual was Sir Francis Drake, the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. This group of seafarers, however, usually preyed on Spanish treasure fleets as they sailed in the Caribbean where their conduct often amounted to piracy.

Week 2: Colonization and Exploration – James Cook and Warren Hastings
In the seventh and eighteenth centuries the pace of British exploration increased. British interest spread in every direction. The lure of the unknown (to the British) continued to attract the work of James Cook and Warren Hastings.

Week 3: Exploring the Empire and Beyond – India, the Middle East and Africa
As India increasingly fascinated the British as the Jewel of the Empire, overland routes placed importance on the Middle East and the Ottoman Empire. Around the world British citizens traveled to exotic places, including the American West, and wrote books on their experiences for the edification of those at home. In the “scramble for Africa” that ensued after 1870, the British led the way.

Week 4: Modern Frontiers—Preserving the Legacy
The search for more remote locations such as the arctic and Antarctic provided opportunities to keep the exploration spirit alive. Places like Nepal, Tibet and the top of Mount Everest attracted British adventurers in the twentieth century. The legacy of exploration and adventure has perhaps weakened but not completely disappeared.

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Register for British Adventurers and Explorers

Online registration has been closed for this class. Please call (520) 777-5817 for information.