why the first voyage the second primary sources
There could be several reasons why the first voyage might have more primary sources than the second voyage:
1. Historical Importance: The first voyage of any exploratory journey is often considered more historically important and significant than subsequent voyages. This is because the first voyage marks the initial exploration and discovery of new lands and cultures, making it a topic of great interest to contemporary observers and future historians.
2. Novelty and Curiosity: The first voyage is often associated with a sense of novelty and curiosity as explorers embark on unknown terrains and encounter new people, plants, and animals. This increases the likelihood of people documenting their experiences through journals, letters, and other primary sources to share these unique encounters.
3. Funding and Sponsorship: The first voyage of an explorer or expedition is often backed by significant funding and sponsorship, as it is the initial undertaking to search for new territories or trade routes. This financial backing allows for the potential establishment of official record-keeping mechanisms, such as logbooks or official reports, which may lead to a higher number of primary sources.
4. Historical Context: The first voyage often occurs in a time when recording and documenting such journeys were considered essential for political, economic, and cultural reasons. Governments, royal courts, and trading companies would actively encourage or require explorers to document their journeys, leading to a greater number of primary sources.
5. Loss or Destruction of Sources: It is also possible that primary sources from the second voyage, if they existed, have been lost or destroyed over time. Historical records can be lost due to factors such as wars, natural disasters, neglect, or simply not being preserved properly. This loss could contribute to fewer primary sources available for the second voyage compared to the first voyage.