Final answer:
After World War I, Colonel Percy Harrison Fawcett's focus shifted towards exploring and mapping South America, driven by the belief that post-war society should strive for discovery, mirroring the era's shift in women's freedoms and colonial ambitions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Colonel Percy Harrison Fawcett, a British explorer, emerged from World War I with a shifted focus. Post-war, Fawcett was driven by a compelling vision to explore and map uncharted territories in South America, an obsession that led him to seek the Lost City of Z. He believed that the aftermath of the war should guide humanity towards greater discoveries.
The context of his time saw significant societal changes, with women gaining more freedoms and colonies yearning for self-determination after their contributions to the war effort. Fawcett's own transformation reflected the broader post-war sentiment that longed for exploration and advancement beyond the horrors of conflict. His post-war expeditions were partly fueled by the ethos of shaking off the old, restrictive Victorian mores and venturing into the new and unknown, which many hoped would redefine a war-torn society.