'Islands of Ice’: Fear, Salvation and Empire – Early-Modern Responses to Floating Ice

Day, Matthew (2026) 'Islands of Ice’: Fear, Salvation and Empire – Early-Modern Responses to Floating Ice. Journal of the British Academy. ISSN 2052-7217 (In Press)

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Abstract

Attitudes towards floating ice – ice-bergs and ice-floes – are shaped by the experience of 19th- and early 20th-century maritime disasters. The fear they create was shared by early-modern navigators and colonisers who referred to them as ‘islands of ice’. Their size and mobility, the damage they did to shipping, along with their capacity to trap and crush ships, caused fear and wonder. Escape from the dangers of ice, was often attributed to divine providence. Yet, the experience of ‘islands of ice’ in the early-modern period was not entirely negative. Ice-bergs provided protection against other moving ice, often carried animals which could be hunted, and supplied fresh water. They were also carefully monitored for signs of currents and tides to establish the possibility of a North-West Passage. Much as they hindered imperialism, they also facilitated it.

Item Type:	Article
Dates:	Date Event 22 February 2026 Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	‘Islands of ice’, early-modern, North-West Passage, ice-bergs, ice-floes, colonisation, imperialism, providence
Subjects:	CAH19 - language and area studies > CAH19-01 - English studies > CAH19-01-01 - English studies (non-specific)
Divisions:	Arts > English and Media > English
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	28 Apr 2026 13:35
Last Modified:	28 Apr 2026 13:35
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/17004

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