The Story of Geographical Discovery: How the World Became Known

A concise survey of how human knowledge of the globe developed, moving from ancient maps and classical geography through medieval travellers and cartography to the great age of maritime discovery and later inland and polar exploration. It examines the motives, routes, and consequences of voyages that opened eastern and western sea-routes, the subsequent exploration of Australia, Africa, and the Arctic and Antarctic regions, and the shifting European rivalries in exploration. The text is organized by era and region, and is supplemented by reproductions of maps and an appendix listing voyages and principal sources to illustrate the progressive expansion of geographic understanding.