From Discovery to Enlightenment: The Contrasting Legacies of Christopher Columbus and James Cook

The Age of Discovery and the Enlightenment produced two of history's most influential explorers—Christopher Columbus and James Cook. This talk delves into their contrasting motivations, methods, and legacies. Columbus’s accidental “discovery” of the Americas ushered in an era of the European Age of Discovery and expansion, resource extraction, and cultural upheaval. By contrast, Cook’s voyages, driven by Enlightenment ideals, prioritized scientific discovery, from mapping the Pacific to observing astronomical phenomena. However, both men’s legacies are intertwined with the darker realities of colonization, exploitation, and cultural disruption. By comparing their lives and impacts, this talk reveals the dual-edged sword of exploration in shaping human history.