Pletcher, Kenneth

The individuals who set out on behalf of the countries they represented came from a variety of backgrounds, and included master navigators such as Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan the latter of whom was the first to circle the globe as well as the often ruthless conquistadors of the New World such as Francisco Pizarro and Hernan Cortes.

Explores the landscapes, sacred places, and populated areas of India, from the coastal fishing villages to the remote villages in the Himalayas, and highly populated urban areas, and describes the country's climate, people, economy, and culture.

Readers will journey alongside a host of notable explorers, accompanying Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition--during which they both charted much of the United States and identified 178 new plants--and marvelling at Charles Darwin's revolutionary findings in the Galapagos Islands.

As the Age of Exploration came to a close, the world seemed to be a significantly smaller place than it once was, with more major landmasses identified on the global map. Armed with greater knowledge and better equipment than their predecessors, explorers in the late Renaissance and Enlightenment eras took up the reins.

Crossing geographic and cultural boundaries at a time when much of the world remained uncharted was a challenge faced by ancient explorers. Long before the Golden Age of Exploration, an assortment of travellers ventured into the unknown, uncovering untapped riches of land and resources in the process.

Technological advances--including pressurized cabins for hot air balloons, rocketry that powers spacecraft, and deep-sea diving gear--have changed the face of exploration. What hasn't changed since ancient times, however, is the bravery and inquisitiveness of intrepid individuals at the forefront of modern-day exploration and adventure.

Traces the history of China from ancient times to the early twenty-first century, highlighting people, events, social, political, and economic factors, trends, global developments, and technological advances that have shaped the country's development.

Chronicles the history of human exploration, from the Silk Road travels and early exploration of the Atlantic Coastline to the age of discovery, the colonial exploration eras, and modern expeditions to the North and South Poles.