Exploration and Early American Culture.

There have been three ages of modern discovery: the first during the era of Columbus, the second beginning in the 17th century, and the third in the planetary and undersea exploration of today. Each age has been based on some sort of scientific revolution that created a new epistemology and set the agenda for exploration. The article surveys the second of these ages of discovery, focusing on the role of science and government in spurring exploration across the globe and particularly in the American West.