What is an expedition? an introduction

As forays into foreign territory, expeditions were integral to the making of modern empires. They connected Europeans with indigenous trade routes and laid the groundwork for the foundation of colonies. Once settlements were established in 'new' territories, the young colonies launched their own expeditions that further advanced the process of imperial expansion. So it is no exaggeration to observe that exploratory expeditions have shaped our world. The momentous histories of human migration and dispossession, dating from the early modern era, were seeded by expeditionary voyages and the inland explorations that followed.