The Discovery of Van Diemen's Land in 1642
In The Discovery of Van Diemen's Land in 1642, James Backhouse Walker tells the story of the first European discovery of the island of Van Diemen's Land, now known as Tasmania. The book begins with the story of Abel Tasman, the Dutch explorer who first sighted the island in 1642. Walker then goes on to discuss the subsequent exploration of the island by the Dutch, French, and British, and the impact of their discoveries on the native inhabitants. He also examines the impact of the island's discovery on the development of the Australian colonies, and the role of the island in the development of the Australian nation. The book is a fascinating look at the history of the island, and its importance in the development of Australia.
By James Backhouse Walker · First published 1884 · Genre: Historical Non-Fiction, Biography, Adventure · 6,987 words
First lines
Abel Janszoon Tasman was unquestionably one of the greatest, if not the greatest, of the navigators between Magellan, who in the early years of the 16th century first crossed the Pacific Ocean, and Cook, who in the latter years of the 18th practically opened Oceania and Australia to Europe.
Little is known of Tasman's personal history, except that he was born about the year 1602, at Hoorn on the Zuyder Zee, a seaport which produced many another hardy navigator. Tasman has made familiar in our seas the name of one of these fellow townsmen, the Corneliszoon Schouten, who in 1616 doubled the Cape, afterwards called the Horn in honour of the birthplace of its discoverer.
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The Discovery of Van Diemen's Land in 1642 is listed on Textopian as a historical account by James Backhouse Walker, dated 1884 CE.
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- Work type: Historical account
- Author: James Backhouse Walker
- Date: 1884 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Non-Fiction, Biography, Adventure, Travel Writing
- Length: 6,987 words
- Structure: 1 section, 52 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Historical Non-Fiction — The book is a factual account of the discovery of Van Diemen's Land in 1642, written by James Backhouse Walker.
- Biography — The book is written by James Backhouse Walker, and thus contains biographical elements.
- Adventure — The book chronicles the discovery of Van Diemen's Land in 1642, which was a daring and adventurous journey.
- Travel Writing — The book is a narrative of the journey to Van Diemen's Land in 1642, and thus contains elements of travel writing.
Tags
exploration · history · colonialism · Australia · 17th century · navigation · geography · Dutch explorers · Van Diemen's Land · James Backhouse Walker · maritime history · settlement