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Colloquium in Discovery, Exploration, and the History
of Discovery
The Historical Process of Transatlantic Discovery
Dr. Dennis Reinhartz
University of Texas at Arlington
Fall, 1999
An examination of the original and scholarly documentation to discern the
nature of the process of geographical discovery, the cartography and science
and technology of discovery, the course of European transatlantic discovery,
exploration, and exploitation and the ensuing cross-cultural and -intellectual
encounter, and the ongoing dialogue between the Old and New Worlds-from before
the Norse voyages to the nineteenth century .
Required readings:
Arnheim, Rudolph. "The Perception of Maps." The American Cartographer 3
(1976): 5-10. On reserve in the UTA Library.
Blackburn, Robin. The Overthrow of Colonial Slavery, 1776-1848. New
York: Verso, 1988. 0-86091-901-3.
Harley, J.B. "The Evaluation of Early Maps: Towards a Methodology." Cartographica XVII
(1980): 62-74. On reserve in the UTA Library.
Kurlansky, Mark. Cod: The Biography of the Fish That Changed the World.
New York: Penguin Books, 1998. 0-14-027501-0.
McDermott, James. "The Navigation of the Frobisher Voyages." On reserve
in the UTA Library.
Meinig, D.W. The Shaping of America: A Geographical Perspective on 500
Years of History, vol. 1, Atlantic America, 1492-1800. New Haven:
Yale University Press, 1986. 9-780300-03882-8.
Russell-Wood, A.J.R. The Portuguese Empire, 1415-1808: A World on the Move. Baltimore:
Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998. 0-8018-5955-7.
Seaver, Kristen. The Frozen Echo: Greenland and the E.xploration of North
America, ca. A.D. 1000-1500. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press,
1997.
0-8047-3161-6.
Washburn, Wilcomb. "The Meaning of 'Discovery' in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth
Centuries." The American Historical Review LXVIII (October 1962):
1-21. On reserve in the UTA Library.
Topics:
August 24-Introduction.
31-Discovery, exploration, and exploitation?
" The Meaning of 'Discovery' in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries."
September 7-Cartography?
" The Perception of Maps."
" The Evaluation of Early Maps: Towards a Methodology."
Discovery-cartography essay due!
14-Discovery, exploration, exploitation, and cartography?
21-The Norse Voyages.
Critical review of The Frozen Echo due!
28-Old World and New: the Iberians.
Critical review of The Portuguese Empire due!
October 5:--01d World and New: the Dutch, French, and English.
"
The Navigation of the Frobisher Voyages."
12-Critical review of Cod due!
19- The Transatlantic Encounter and Exchange.
26--Critical review of Atlantic America due!
November 2-
9-Critical review of The Overthrow of Colonial Slavery due!
16-Reading.
23-Reading.
30-A Reconsideration of the Transatlantic Experience.
All critical reviews of student-selected books due!
In addition to class participation (10%), each student will complete successfully
five instructor-assigned critical book reviews (40%) and a brief analytical
essay of 5- 7 pages in length (20%) as well as three student selected critical
book reviews (30%).
Please note: If you require accommodation based on diasability, the instructor
would like to meet with you the first week of class to solve any problems.
Please note: The instructor will not drop students for excessive absences.
Students are responsible for dropping the course before the cut-off date for
drops.
Please note: The instructor and the University require a high level of scholastic
behavior and honesty from students in this course. Scholastic dishonesty includes,
but is not limited to cheating, plagarism, collusion, the submission for credit
of any work that was used in whole or in part for another course without obtaining
permission from the instructors in advance, the submission for credit of any
work that is attributable in whole or in part to another person, any act designed
to give unfair advantage to another student, or the attempts to commit such
acts. Students who violate university rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject
to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course
and dismissal from the University. Since dishonesty harms the individual, all
students, and the integrity of the university community, policies on scholastic
dishonesty will be strictly enforced.
© 2004 by The President and Fellows of Harvard College.
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