The Discovery of Antarctica from Ptolemy to Shackleton

doi:10.1017/9781108555654.008

8 - The Discovery of Antarctica from Ptolemy to Shackleton

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 March 2023

Erki Tammiksaar and

Cornelia Lüdecke

Edited by

Adrian Howkins and

Peder Roberts

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Adrian Howkins: Affiliation:
University of Bristol
Peder Roberts: Affiliation:
University of Stavanger

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Summary

There is a wealth of literature on Antarctic research. Many overviews on the nature of Antarctica, cartography, its geology and glaciation, inhabitants and visitors, and cultural perspectives have been published recently.1 The first history of polar exploration of Europeans was published in 1756.2 Since then, many more Western historical overviews have been published, and we also have a chronological list of expeditions to Antarctica as well as good coverage in encyclopedias.3 In addition to these publications, there are several studies of the significance of ice and the development of natural sciences in the understanding of the physical nature of Antarctica. There are also some important recents works on the history of science which have not been fully integrated with the histories of exploration and discovery.

Keywords

Antarctica history exploration ice navigation discovery James Cook geography cartography

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Type: Chapter
Information: The Cambridge History of the Polar Regions , pp. 181 - 206

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108555654.008 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2023

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