Other Famous Explorers of the 17th and 18th Centuries

This exhibit looks at early modern explorers such as John Smith (1580-1631), Mark Catesby (1682/83-1749), and James Cook (1728-1779) in order to contextualize James Bruce's 18th century journey in East Africa. Many of these explorers share similar experiences and qualities with Bruce, and their expeditions were considered some of the most influential of the time period. In addition to their popularity, each of these explorers made considerable contributions to the social, economic, and political realms of the early modern period.