James May's Great Explorers

Synopsis

Explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Captain James Cook were once celebrated figures, known for their daring voyages across uncharted waters. However, their legacies are complex, marked by the spread of disease, the destruction of indigenous civilizations, and the expansion of the transatlantic slave trade. While they brought back treasures and tales of adventure, many of their so-called discoveries were fraught with violence and exploitation, challenging the romanticized narratives of exploration that have persisted through history.