Spotlight on explorers and colonization

"When Thomas Jefferson negotiated the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, he needed a team to survey that vast, unknown expanse of land. He chose Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Together, they led the Corps of Discovery, a team of ... explorers across a wild, dangerous country. Readers will understand the impact Lewis and Clark's expedition had on American history ... [and] follow their journey across roaring rivers, vast plains, and untrod paths ... [Also describes] the Native Americans they met, the fierce wildlife that threatened their lives, and the hunger, sickness, and injury that dogged them from start to finish"--Provided by publisher.

"[A biography of Samuel de Champlain, providing] a look at a man who served as the geographer to the French king, an expert on Native Americans, a skilled mapmaker, the founder of Quebec City, and the father of New France"--Provided by publisher.

Text and illustrations look at the life of thirteenth-century Venetian merchant and explorer Marco Polo.

A brief biography of explorer Hern?n Cort?s, who would become known as the man who destroyed the Aztec empire in Mexico.

A brief biography of Francisco Pizarro, focusing on his exploration of South America and his conquering of the Inca empire.

"In the summer of 1535, France's king Francis I sent explorer Jacques Cartier to the New World to search for the Northwest Passage that would lead from China and the East. It was hoped he would also return with ships brimming with riches and gold for the country ... Cartier found neither the elusive passage nor a bounty of riches, but he did find the St. Lawrence River. Readers will learn about the details of Cartier's extensive travels, his encounters with Native Americans, and the many features for which he is named"--Provided by publisher.

"In 1405, the Chinese emperor sent the world's largest fleet of ships to explore the ""Western Oceans."" Zheng He was at the helm of the expedition, a man who rose from poverty to captain China's famous Treasure Fleet on an adventure covering more than thirty-five thousand miles. Little known in the West, Zheng He was one of history's most important explorers. This guide will take readers on a journey from Nanjing all the way to Africa and the Middle East as Zheng He brings Chinese technology to remote ports of call, and changes the face of the world in the process.".

"In 1325, a young Muslim man named Ibn Battuta set out on a religious pilgrimage to Mecca. It would be nearly thirty years before he returned home. Ibn Battuta was a fourteenth-century pilgrim, traveler, scholar, and writer. He walked, sailed, and rode some seventy-five thousand miles across the medieval Muslim world, covering the equivalent of forty-four modern-day countries. This volume details the fascinating cultures Battuta experienced: the people he met, the foods he ate, the dangers he faced, plus his viewpoints on family, religion, and slavery. Learn how the legacy of this medieval traveler still resonates today.".

A brief biography of Vasco N??ez de Balboa, discussing how how he rose to great power through his sailing abilities even though he was born into a respected but poor family.

"In a pattern anyone familiar with the European explorers of the 1500s will recognize, Francisco Vazquez de Coronado set out in search of land and treasure. Following in the footsteps of Hernan Cortes, Coronado set out for the New World in hopes of claiming land and wealth for Spain ... [This book describes] the Coronado expedition from Mexico to Kansas as ...[he] sought in vain for the mythical seven cities of gold"--Provided by publisher.