Why study the history of exploration?

Abstract

To some critical geographers, the history of exploration might seem an unpromising field. Colonial-era expeditions embody many of the values that most contemporary scholars seek to move away from, including racism, heroic masculinity, and imperial expansion. This reflection on Lachlan Fleetwood's important book, Science on the Roof of the World, will address one central question: 'What does the discipline of geography gain by further analysis of nineteenth century expeditions?' This is an important questionand not a new one (Barnett, 1995). In answering it, this commentary will reflect on the productive role that the history of exploration can play within contemporary geographical research.