Free for educational use
Endeavour Journal
Year of production - 2004
Duration - 5min 0sec
Tags - Australian History, see all tags
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Endeavour Journal is an episode of the series National Treasures produced in 2004.
Endeavour Journal
What is Australia’s greatest book? In the National Library of Australia there is a 743-page volume that could lay claim to the title. It is Lieutenant James Cook’s journal, written on board the Endeavour during his trip down under in 1770. Warren Brown leafs through these precious pages to discover Cook’s first impressions and trace the beginning of Australia as we know it today.
National Treasures
Take a road-trip of discovery with the irrepressible Warren Brown – political cartoonist, columnist and history “tragic” – as he reveals a fascinating mix of national treasures drawn from public and private collections across Australia. On its own, each treasure is a priceless snapshot of an historic moment. Together, they illustrate the vitality and uniqueness of the Australian experience.
National Treasures is a Film Australia National Interest Program. Produced with the assistance of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Captain James Cook FRS RN (October 27, 1728 – February 14, 1779) was an English explorer, navigator and cartographer. Cook made three voyages to the Pacific Ocean.
James Cook was the first European explorer to chart the east coast of Australia. Written on board the Endeavour during his 1770 trip, James Cook’s journal records his first impressions and traces the beginning of Australia as we know it today.
- Understanding the video clip
- What is the object shown?
- When does it date from?
- Who is it associated with?
- Where is it found today?
- Why is it located there?
- Why is it a significant item?
- Exploring issues raised in the video clip
James Cook was the first European explorer to chart the east coast of Australia. He is presented in many Australian text books as a hero. In tracing his voyage around the world, writer Tony Horwitz discovered that to many Indigenous people he is seen as a villain. He discusses this in an interview found on Book Browse- Research Cook’s travels and decide: was he a hero or a villain? Justify your conclusion by reference to the criteria you develop to apply to him.
For more National Treasures information and video clips go to Investigating National Tresures