Locals Taking a Britisher to the Place He Will Discover

Recently, during one of my mindless scrolling sessions on Facebook, I stumbled upon a humorous image.

The caption read: “Locals taking a Britisher to the place he will discover.” It might not seem funny if you’re British, as it pokes fun at the grand achievements credited to European explorers.

The image featured a white man, likely British, though he could just as easily have been French or from another European nation. Meanwhile, local men carried him, not necessarily to some picturesque landscape he would claim as his “discovery,” but perhaps just back to his tent.

However, the caption sheds light on a sobering truth: the legacy of European exploration since the Renaissance and beyond is deeply intertwined with oppression and appropriation — of wealth, culture, and credit.

When we read about the so-called discoveries of rivers, mountains, or ancient civilizations, it’s worth asking: how could someone “discover” a place where people had already been living, thriving, and guiding these explorers to begin with? The locals were often the ones pointing the way, yet the credit rarely, if ever, reached them.

Curiosity and Conquest

From the 15th century onward, European nations showed unparalleled curiosity about the world. Explorers from Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Britain sought to map the globe, fueled by a mix of ambition and royal funding.

Their curiosity stood in stark contrast to the attitudes of empires like the Mughals in India. Mughal emperors, for instance, relied on ancient texts and traditions, believing they already held all the knowledge they needed.

In contrast, Europeans during the Renaissance embraced the idea that there was much they didn’t know — and they set out to discover it.

This mindset, combined with advancements in navigation and a thirst for conquest, allowed European powers to dominate even the wealthiest empires, such as the Mughal Empire.

The Power of Storytelling

History, as we know it, is often the history written by the victors. Europeans not only conquered lands but also excelled at documenting their exploits.

For example, Indian schoolbooks often dedicate more pages to the French Revolution than to India’s own struggle for independence. European historians meticulously recorded events, down to the lives of peasants and kings, while records from other continents are less comprehensive.

This ability to control the narrative ensured that the “discoveries” of European explorers were immortalized, even if those discoveries were guided by the hands of locals.

A Final Thought

While we can — and should — criticize the cruelty and greed of colonial practices, we might also acknowledge their role in connecting the world. Today’s globalized society, where cultures and ideas intermingle, owes part of its existence to these early, albeit exploitative, ventures.

So, the next time you read about a European “discovery,” take a moment to question the narrative. Behind every celebrated explorer was likely a local guide who knew the land far better — and whose story deserves to be told.

Note: This story was first published on my Medium account