{"product_id":"the-exploration-of-north-america-16301776","title":"The exploration of North America, 1630-1776","description":"This volumes presents a compelling recreation of early North American explorers and exploration through carefully documented commentary linked to original narratives by traders  frontiersmen  priests and soldiers  as well as a superb range of contemporary maps  drawings and pictures  many never before reproduced.  The amount of discovery literature published during the 17th and 18th centuries is enormous  and ranges from the articulate reports contained in the Jesuit Relations to the rough but graphic accounts of traders. The aims of the explorers journeys varied: exploitation of the fur trade  determination to claim new territories  missionary zeal  the quest for the western ocean  and  in the end  delineation of boundaries. But whatever their motives  the explorers narratives are full of vivid descriptions of great rivers  seemingly endless plains  snow-capped mountains  lakes like inland seas and  above all  the customs and curiosities of the numerous Indian peoples and the super-abundance of animal and plant life.  Each chapter of this book is prefaced by a historical survey of the opening up of new land and the main routes followed. In contemporary accounts certain figures stand out for the importance of their journeys or the perception of their writings: Radisson  who served both British and French in turn; La Verendrye searching for the western ocean; La Salle on the Mississippi and the Gulf coast; Gist and Daniel Boone in Kentucky; Perea and Cook on the northwest coast; Escalante in the western interior. The experience of these mens not only richly informative but makes highly entertaining and absorbing narrative in its own right.","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44642377465909,"sku":"ByrdShop_0236310550","price":225.41,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/ByrdShop_0236310550_028e5c09-458e-4f35-9114-fb665276336c.jpg?v=1765002459","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-exploration-of-north-america-16301776","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}