The Explorers Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza and the Exploration of Central Africa – Part 3/4 – The Congo Aug 14, 2020

Show notes

In part 3 of our series, Brazza returns to Africa, where he will establish two outposts, including one on the Congo River. In the process, he will thwart many of the plans of King Leopold II of Belgium, who wants to make the entire Congo basin his own personal colony.

Website: https://explorerspodcast.com/brazza/

Map: https://explorerspodcast.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/ogowe5.png

People and Places

Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza - Born in Italy, but educated in France. Would join the French navy, and become interested in exploring Africa.
Ogowe River (often spelled Ogooué or Ogoway) - River in central Africa that Brazza would explore.
Congo River - River in central Africa.
Livingstone Falls - 220 mile stretch on the Congo filled with rapids and waterfalls. Impassable for most river craft.
Malamine Camara - Senegalese marine who would be Brazza's most trusted and capable comrade.
Noël Ballay - Doctor on Brazza's first and second expedition to Africa.
Libreville - French outpost in what is modern-day Gabon.
Francheville - Outpost established by Brazza at the confluence of the Ogowe and Passa rivers.
Malebo Pool - aka the Pool and Stanley Pool. Lake located at the top of Livingstone Falls. Brazza would establish a post here, which would eventually become Brazzaville.
Alima River - Tributary of the Congo. Controlled by the Bobangi people.
Passa River - Tributary of the Ogowe. Location of Francheville.
King Leopold II of Belgium - Monarch who wanted to take control of the Congo basin.
Henry Morton Stanley - African explorer and journalist. Had crossed the continent and mapped the Congo River.
International African Association - Organization established by King Leopold to help him gain control of central Africa.
Makoko - Important Bateke chief who would sign treaty with Brazza.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza and the Exploration of Central Africa - Part 2/4 - The Father of Slaves Aug 04, 2020

Show notes

In part 2 of our series, Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza conducts his first African expedition up the Ogowe River.

Website: https://explorerspodcast.com/brazza/

Map: https://explorerspodcast.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/ogowe3.png

People and Places

Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza - Born in Italy, but educated in France. Would join the French navy, and become interested in exploring Africa.
Ogowe River (often spelled Ogooué or Ogoway) - River in central Africa that Brazza would explore.
Noël Ballay - Doctor on Brazza's first expedition to Africa.
Antoine-Alfred Marche - Naturalist on Brazza's first expedition to Africa.
Victor Hamon - Naval officer who would be the quartermaster on Brazza's first expedition to Africa.
Libraville - French outpost in what is modern-day Gabon.
Lambarene - Town on the Ogowe River. Home to Chief Renoke.
Renoke - Chief of the Enenga tribe.
Enenga - A tribe living along the Ogowe River around the town of Lambarene.
Okanda - A tribe living along the Ogowe River.
Duma - A tribe living along the Ogowe River.
Alima River - Tributary of the Congo. Controlled by the Bobangi people.
Passa River - Tributary of the Ogowe.
Louis de Montaignac - French admiral who would help Brazza gain admittance into the naval academy.
Henry Morton Stanley - African explorer and journalist. Had crossed the continent and mapped the Congo River.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza and the Exploration of Central Africa - Part 1/4 Jul 27, 2020

Show notes

In the first part of our series on Italian-born Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, we take a look at the world of Central Africa circa 1875, including the institution of slavery, and scramble by European powers to explore - and claim the continent. Brazza goes from the son of an Italian noble family, to being an officer in the French navy. He will then prepare to lead an expedition into the African interior - at the age of only 23.

Website: https://explorerspodcast.com/brazza/

Map: https://explorerspodcast.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/ogowe1.png

People and Places

Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza - Born in Italy, but educated in France. Would join the French navy, and become interested in exploring Africa.
Louis de Montaignac - French admiral who would help Brazza gain admittance into the naval academy.
Libraville - French outpost in what is modern-day Gabon.
Ogowe River (often spelled Ogooué or Ogoway) - River in central Africa that Brazza would explore.
Noël Ballay - Doctor on Brazza's first expedition to Africa.
Antoine-Alfred Marche - Naturalist on Brazza's first expedition to Africa.
Victor Hamon - Naval officer who would be the quartermaster on Brazza's first expedition to Africa.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Xu Fu and the Exploration of Japan Jul 12, 2020

Show notes

In 219 BCE, Xu Fu, a Chinese explorer and alchemist, would set out in search of the elixir of life for Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Instead, legend says he discovered Japan - and maybe even became the island's first emperor.

Website: https://explorerspodcast.com/xu-fu/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/explorerspod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/explorerspod/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Burke and Wills Expedition – Part 8 – The Fate of John King and the Legacy of the VEE Jul 06, 2020

Show notes

In the final super-sized episode (part 8) of the Burke and Wills Expedition, we take a look at the fate of John King – the last unaccounted for member of the VEE. We then cover the aftermath of the expedition, and look at the legacy of Burke and Wills and Victorian Exploring Expedition.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Burke and Wills Expedition - Part 7 - The Mount Hopeless Gamble Jun 23, 2020

Show notes

In Part 7 of our series, Burke, Wills and King make a desperate stab at making for Mount Hopeless. While much closer than Menindee, the three men do not know the way or have accurate directions. Meanwhile, Wright and Brahe meet up, and make for the depot at Cooper's Creek. In Melbourne, the calls for a search party grown louder and louder with each passing week.

People and Places

Robert O’Hara Burke – Leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition (VEE)
William Wills – British surveyor and astronomer. 2nd-in-command of the expedition.
Victoria Exploring Expedition (VEE) – The official name of the expedition led by Robert Burke to cross the Australian continent.
Hermann Beckler – German doctor and botanist.
Ludwig Becker – German geologist and naturalist.
William Wright – Bushman who joined the VEE at Menindee. Now leading the relief column to Cooper’s Creek.
John King – 22-year old ex-soldier. Selected by Burke to be part of the contingent going to the north coast.
Cooper’s Creek – River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. About 750 miles from Melbourne.
Menindee – Most northerly outpost on the route of the VEE in their trek across Australia. About 400 miles from Melbourne.
Gulf of Carpentaria – The most direct route from Victoria to the northern coast of Australia – roughly a 1500 mile journey across the continent.
Mount Hopeless - a cattle station about 150 miles southwest of the depot at Cooper's Creek.
Alfred Howitt - English explorer and naturalist who will be hired by the Royal Society of Victoria to head north and find out what has happened to Robert Burke and his men.

Links, resources and maps: https://explorerspodcast.com/

Map: https://explorerspodcast.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/map-part7.png

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Burke and Wills Expedition - Part 6 - The Return Jun 15, 2020

Show notes

In part 6 of our series, Robert Burke and his comrades begin their journey from the northern coast of Australia to the depot at Cooper's Creek. They are low on supplies and their health is waning. Meanwhile, William Wright struggles to get the needed supplies to depot, where the health of William Brahe and his men is deteriorating.

People and Places

Robert O’Hara Burke – Leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition (VEE)
William Wills – British surveyor and astronomer. 2nd-in-command of the expedition.
Victoria Exploring Expedition (VEE) – The official name of the expedition led by Robert Burke to cross the Australian continent.
Hermann Beckler - German doctor and botanist.
Ludwig Becker - German geologist and naturalist.
William Wright - Bushman who joined the VEE at Menindee. Now leading the relief column to Cooper's Creek.
John King - 22-year old ex-soldier. Selected by Burke to be part of the contingent going to the north coast.
Thomas McDonough - VEE member who accompanied Burke and Wills to Cooper's Creek.
Charley Gray - VEE member who was selected to go with Burke and Wills to the north coast of Australia.
Cooper’s Creek – River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. About 750 miles from Melbourne.
Menindee - Most northerly outpost on the route of the VEE in their trek across Australia. About 400 miles from Melbourne.
Gulf of Carpentaria - The most direct route from Victoria to the northern coast of Australia - roughly a 1500 mile journey across the continent.

Resources and links: https://explorerspodcast.com/

Map: https://explorerspodcast.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/burke_and_wills_map.png

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Burke and Wills Expedition - Part 5 - Across Australia Jun 04, 2020

Show notes

In part 5 of our series Robert Burke and William Wills lead a small contingent of men into the outback of Australia in an attempt to reach reach the north coast - and in the process become the first men to cross the continent.

People and Places

Robert O’Hara Burke – Leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition (VEE)
William Wills – British surveyor and astronomer. 2nd-in-command of the expedition.
Victoria Exploring Expedition (VEE) – The official name of the expedition led by Robert Burke to cross the Australian continent.
John McDouall Stuart – Scottish explorer who was the chief competitor with the VEE to blaze a route across Australia.
Hermann Beckler – German doctor and botanist.
Ludwig Becker – German geologist and naturalist.
William Wright – Bushman who joined the VEE at Menindee.
John King – 22-year old ex-soldier. Selected by Burke to be part of the contingent going to the north coast.
Dick – Aboriginal Guide who accompanied Burke – and then Lyons – to the north.
Thomas McDonough – VEE member who accompanied Burke and Wills to Cooper’s Creek.
Charley Gray – VEE member who was selected to go with Burke and Wills to the north coast of Australia.
Cooper’s Creek – River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. About 750 miles from Melbourne.
Menindee – Most northerly outpost on the route of the VEE in their trek across Australia. About 400 miles from Melbourne.
Gulf of Carpentaria – The most direct route from Victoria to the northern coast of Australia – roughly a 1500 mile journey across the continent.
Selwyn Range - Rugged mountain range in the interior of Australia that the expedition would need to cross.

Find maps and reading resources at: https://bit.ly/3eOMH0k

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Burke and Wills Expedition - Part 4 - Cooper's Creek May 25, 2020

Show notes

In part 4 of our series, Burke and Wills travel north to Cooper's Creek, where they establish a supply depot. Burke will spend a month scouting the area to the north, before finally departing for the north coast in mid-December. At Menindee, William Wright waits for money to buy more horses so he can haul all the supplies to Burke's new camp. Meanwhile, a policeman, Trooper Myles Lyons, strikes out for Cooper's Creek carrying dispatches for Burke.

People and Places

Robert O’Hara Burke – Leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition (VEE)
William Wills – British surveyor and astronomer. 2nd-in-command of the expedition.
Victoria Exploring Expedition (VEE) – The official name of the expedition led by Robert Burke to cross the Australian continent.
John McDouall Stuart – Scottish explorer who was the chief competitor with the VEE to blaze a route across Australia.
Hermann Beckler - German doctor and botanist.
Ludwig Becker - German geologist and naturalist.
William Wright - Bushman who joined the VEE at Menindee.
John King - 22-year old ex-soldier. Selected by Burke to be part of the contingent going to the north coast.
Trooper Myles Lyons - Policeman from Swan Hill bringing dispatches to Robert Burke.
Alexander McPherson - Saddler who would join Lyons and Dick in an attempt to reach Burke at Cooper's Creek.
William Hodgkinson - Journalist who joined the expedition at Swan Hill.
Dick - Aboriginal Guide who accompanied Burke - and then Lyons - to the north.
Peter - Aboriginal Guide who accompanied Hermann Beckler to rescue Lyons and MacPherson.
Thomas McDonough - VEE member who accompanied Burke and Wills to Cooper's Creek.
Charley Gray - VEE member who was selected to go with Burke and Wills to the north coast of Australia.
Cooper’s Creek – River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. About 750 miles from Melbourne.
Menindee - Most northerly outpost on the route of the VEE in their trek across Australia. About 400 miles from Melbourne.
Gulf of Carpentaria - The most direct route from Victoria to the northern coast of Australia - roughly a 1500 mile journey across the continent.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Burke and Wills Expedition - Part 3 - Menindee May 12, 2020

Show notes

In part 3 of our series, the Victorian Exploring Expedition travels from Melbourne to the frontier outpost of Menindee on the Darling River. Along the way, the VEE will undergo a transformation as many key members will be fired (or resign), and others will join the company. Meanwhile, Robert Burke must dodge an arrest notice, criticism and his own ego to move the VEE forward.

Map: https://explorerspodcast.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/map2-1.png

People and Places

Robert O’Hara Burke – Leader of the Victorian Exploring Expedition (VEE)
George Landells – Horse trader who brought 25 camels to Australia, and 2nd-in-command of the VEE. Fired upon reaching Menindee.
William Wills – British surveyor and astronomer. Named 2nd-in-command of the expedition after the dismissal of George Landells.
Victoria Exploring Expedition (VEE) – The official name of the expedition led by Robert Burke to cross the Australian continent.
John McDouall Stuart – Scottish explorer who would be the chief competitor with the VEE to blaze a route across Australia.
Hermann Beckler - German doctor and botanist. mega at Menindee, but stayed on.
Ludwig Becker - German geologist and naturalist.
William Wright - Bushman who would join Burke at Menindee as a guide.
Georg von Neumayer - Professor and member of the Exploration Committee.
John King - 22-year old ex-soldier. Came from India with camels.
William Hodgkinson - Journalist who joined expedition at Swan Hill.
Cooper’s Creek – River in central Australia. It is about halfway across the continent if someone is traveling between Melbourne and Gulf of Carpentaria in the north. About 750 miles from Melbourne.
Menindee - Most northerly outpost on the route of the VEE in their trek across Australia. About 400 miles from Melbourne.
Gulf of Carpentaria - The most direct route from Victoria to the northern coast of Australia - roughly a 1500 mile journey across the continent.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected