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A review by jjmclellan
The Voyage of the Beagle: Charles Darwin's Journal of Researches by Charles Darwin
3.0
Sometimes dry, yet fascinating glimpse into the world as it was in the 1830's. Darwin spent nearly 5 years circumnavigating the world as the naturalist companion to the captain of the good ship Beagle.
In addition to his comments about the geology and biology of the areas he visits, you learn about the social conditions as well. He discusses slavery which England had finally banned not many years before but which he comes into direct contact with while exploring areas of South America. He compares the cultures of various peoples he encounters, the Tierra Del Fuegans, Australian aborigines, Tahitian islanders, gauchos, Chileans, etc. He discusses the war of extermination of the 'Wild' Indians at the time in South America.
It's surprising to find out that the scientists of that time were very much aware that the earth's surface had been undergoing massive uplifting and settling of the land masses and uses this to help explain many of the geological features he encounters, including his theory about the formation of atolls in the south pacific which I found surprising and interesting.
In addition to his comments about the geology and biology of the areas he visits, you learn about the social conditions as well. He discusses slavery which England had finally banned not many years before but which he comes into direct contact with while exploring areas of South America. He compares the cultures of various peoples he encounters, the Tierra Del Fuegans, Australian aborigines, Tahitian islanders, gauchos, Chileans, etc. He discusses the war of extermination of the 'Wild' Indians at the time in South America.
It's surprising to find out that the scientists of that time were very much aware that the earth's surface had been undergoing massive uplifting and settling of the land masses and uses this to help explain many of the geological features he encounters, including his theory about the formation of atolls in the south pacific which I found surprising and interesting.