The Explorers Podcast

In part 1 of our series, we first take a look at the journey of Marco's father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo Polo, who traveled to China and met the great Kublai Khan. We then follow the Polo family as they prepare for a return mission into the heart of the Mongol Empire.Website: https://explorerspodcast.com/marco-polo/Map: https://explorerspodcast.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/polo-map1a.pngPeople and PlacesMarco Polo - Venetian merchant and explorerNiccolò Polo - Father of Marco PoloMaffeo Polo - Brother of Niccolò, uncle of MarcoKublai Khan - Emperor of the Mongol EmpireTeobaldo Visconti - Papal Legate in Acre - later Pope Gregory XVenice - City State in Italy. Home of the PolosConstantinople - Former capital of the Byzantine EmpireAcre - City on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea in modern-day IsraelAyes - City on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea in modern-day TurkeyKhanbaliq - Capital of Mongol Empire (modern-day Beijing)Bukhara - City on Silk Road located in modern-day Uzbekistan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the conclusion of our series, Brazza spends more than a decade as an administrator in Africa. He will then return to the Congo one final time, in 1905, to investigate the accusations of abuses against the native peoples.Website: https://explorerspodcast.com/brazza/Map: https://explorerspodcast.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/ogowe5.pngPeople 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. Charles de Chavannes - Friend and colleague of Brazza's in Africa. Thérèse de Chambrun - Wife of Brazza. Libreville - French outpost in what is modern-day Gabon. Francheville - Outpost established by Brazza at the confluence of the Ogowe and Passa rivers. Brazzaville - Outpost established by Brazza at the top of Livingstone Falls. Opposite the city of Leopoldville (now Kinshasha). 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. Makoko - Important Bateke chief who would sign treaty with Brazza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.pngPeople 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

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.pngPeople 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

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.pngPeople 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

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/explorerspodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/explorerspod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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