The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook

Cook’s approach to studying the Indigenous cultures he encountered is a key topic in the book. His detailed and empathetic documentation of rituals, customs, and social structures exemplifies early anthropological observation, which entails watching and recording the activities of a group in their setting. This method underscores the Enlightenment values of curiosity and knowledge, emphasizing Cook’s role in expanding European understanding of diverse cultures. However, it also perpetuates Eurocentrism and the power dynamics of viewing Indigenous people as objects of study and European observers as intellectual subjects.

“Cultural exchange” refers to the interactions and mutual influences between people; in this text, between Cook’s crew and the Indigenous people they encounter. These exchanges, both positive and negative, reveal the complexities of first contact and the impact of European exploration on Indigenous societies. The term underscores the book’s exploration of the nuances and consequences of cross-cultural interactions.

The Enlightenment, an intellectual movement emphasizing reason, science, and empirical evidence, significantly influences Cook’s voyages. Cook’s scientific methods and quest for knowledge reflect Enlightenment ideals. This contextualizes the motivations and methodologies behind the explorations, framing them within the broader historical and philosophical landscape of the time.

Ethnography is the systematic study of people and cultures, involving describing a culture from the perspective of those being studied. It is a recurring element in Cook’s documentation of his voyages. His detailed accounts of the customs, economies, and social structures of the Indigenous populations provide historical records.

First contact describes the initial encounters between European people (such as Cook’s crew) and Indigenous people. These moments are fraught with misunderstanding, curiosity, and sometimes conflict, shaping the narrative’s tension.

Imperial ambitions refer to the strategic and territorial goals of the British Empire, which sponsors Cook’s voyages. These ambitions underscore the dual nature of exploration as both scientific endeavor and imperial conquest. The term highlights the geopolitical context of the voyages and the broader impact of European expansionism on the world.

Indigenous people are inhabitants of a region who originate there. In the text, their diverse cultures, social structures, and interactions with Cook’s crew are central to the narrative. Sides focuses on the human dimension of exploration and the changes these encounters bring to Indigenous societies.

The Makahiki Festival is a traditional Hawaiian celebration dedicated to the god Lono, involving feasts, sports, and religious rituals. Cook’s arrival in Hawai’i during this festival significantly influences the Hawaiians’ perception of him as a divine figure. Sides describes the festival to illustrate the cultural and spiritual context of the Hawaiian Islands.

Navigation, the art and science of plotting a course through the sea, is a crucial skill for Cook and his crew. The text details various navigational techniques and challenges, highlighting the advancements and limitations of 18th-century seafaring.

Negative discovery refers to the process of disproving the existence of hypothesized landmasses or sea routes, as exemplified by Cook’s search for Terra Australis Incognita. This concept highlights the value of refining and correcting geographic knowledge. It underscores the importance of empirical evidence in scientific inquiry and navigation.

The Northwest Passage is the fabled sea route through the Arctic connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Cook’s efforts to find this passage are a major focus of his final voyage. The passage represents the enduring allure and challenges of Arctic exploration and the economic motivations for exploration.

Polynesian navigation refers to the sophisticated maritime skills of the Indigenous people in the Pacific, who navigated vast ocean distances long before European explorers did. Sides hence acknowledges Indigenous contributions to the history of exploration.