Legendary Explorers

Living dangerously with the members of the world-renowned Explorers Club.

The 1927 autobiography, in English translation, of the first man to traverse the North-West Passage and to reach the South Pole.

Great explorers are known for their hard-earned skills and meticulously honed character traits which have made their astonishing endeavours possible. Valuable lessons are waiting to be learned from the feats attained by the most revered names in exploration - from legendary adventurers such as Christopher Columbus to contemporary figures such as Wasfia Nazreen. Life Lessons from Explorers collects 20 of the most highly-prized traits shared by those who have scaled mountains and traversed tundras, proposing how these could be applied to your own life, whether you are crossing Antarctica or battling a mental obstacle. Compelling accounts of the life and times of celebrated explorers, highlighting when they have displayed these traits, are accompanied by remarkable images and documents from the Royal Geographical Society archives.

*Includes descriptions of the voyage from crew member Antonio Pigafetta's journal. *Includes maps and pictures of important people and places in Magellan's life. "Most versed in nautical charts, he knew better than any other the true art of navigation, of which it is certain proof that he by his genius, and his intrepidity, without anyone having given him the example, how to attempt the circuit of the globe which he had almost completed... The glory of Magellan will survive him." - Antonio Pigafetta A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history's most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? The Age of Exploration and the explorers who set out on their history-making expeditions left many legacies and profoundly influenced history around the world. The voyages of men like Columbus and the conquests of men like Cortes escalated tensions between the European nations, initiated imperialistic empires on a global scale, helped birth the United States, and ensured that the wars in the 20th century were truly world wars. In Charles River Editors' Legendary Explorers series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of the most important explorers of history in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. Ferdinand Magellan was unquestionably one of the more remarkable figures of the Age of Exploration, and given his fateful expedition, he has the era's most unique legacy. Today he is remembered as the first man to circumnavigate the globe, despite the fact he died thousands of miles away from Spain in the Philippines. It is also commonly overlooked that among the famous and historic expeditions in the early 16th century, Magellan's was by far the most dangerous, unique, and adventurous. Nearly 240 men would set sail from Spain in August 1519 aboard 5 ships, and 18 would return to Spain in September 1522 aboard 1 ship. Given his legacy and the fact that he died half a world away from Spain, the nature of his achievements has sometimes been misunderstood. Though he personally didn't circumnavigate the globe, Magellan was one of the most accomplished navigators of his time, and during his expedition he crucially charted territories previously unexplored by Europeans, including the Strait of Magellan at the southern tip of South America. Perhaps the most important fact about Magellan, though, is that he succeeded precisely where Christopher Columbus before him had failed. While Columbus has gone down in history as the discoverer of America (for Europeans), finding a new continent was never his true goal. For the Europeans of the time, the establishment of trade routes to Asia remained the most important commercial ambition of all, and though he is not as notorious as Columbus or Cortes, it was Magellan who established a westward route to the Spice Islands of the Indian Ocean. In the early 16th century, that was a more important accomplishment to Europeans than the discovery of a New World. In economic terms, the opening up of new trade routes with Asia was a more significant development than the conquest of the Americas, and the development of the new American colonial economies is unimaginable without the expansion of commerce with the East. Legendary Explorers: The Life and Legacy of Ferdinand Magellan chronicles Magellan's life and his historic expedition, analyzing the aftermath of his expeditions and his legacy. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events in his life, you will learn about Magellan like you never have before, in no time at all.

*Includes quotes from The Travels of Marco Polo describing Kublai Khan and some of the things Marco Polo saw, including rhinoceros, crocodiles, coal, and more. *Explains how Marco Polo's travels influenced cartographers and subsequent explorers like Columbus. *Includes maps and pictures of important people and places in Marco Polo's life and travels. *Includes a Bibliography for further reading. "I have not told half of what I saw." - Marco Polo A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history's most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors' Legends of the Middle Ages series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of important medieval men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. Marco Polo (1254-1324) is an instantly recognizable name, and he is known for his travels, but it's safe to say that his influence and importance has been greatly overlooked in the nearly 700 years since he died. Born in Venice, Marco Polo was in a fortuitous position to participate in the Mediterranean trade, but he was still a young man when he went on the journey that would make him famous and greatly inspire the Age of Exploration. Though he was destined to become famous, Marco Polo was simply following in the footsteps of his own family, and it's believed that he was already a teenager before he met his father and uncle, who had been traveling to the Far East and, according to Marco Polo, had met Kublai Khan, the famous grandson of Genghis Khan. A few years later, they set off for Asia again, this time with Marco Polo, and they would not return to Venice for 24 years. When they came back, they had allegedly traveled about 15,000 miles and brought back plenty of riches and treasure. Marco Polo was hardly the only European merchant or trader who traveled to the Far East, but it was his written account of his travels that would generate extreme interest in Asia. Having described such a rich land full of desired resources, Marco Polo's travels became a source for European cartographers of the era, and they became the impetus for men like Christopher Columbus, who added his own annotations to Marco Polo's account and used it as a reference for his own legendary expedition in search of the Far East. Centuries later, historians have scoured over the account and what was written in an effort to validate its authenticity, leading to sharp debates today. Legendary Explorers: The Life and Legacy of Marco Polo chronicles the life and travels of the Venetian merchant, while analyzing how his account influenced subsequent explorers. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Marco Polo like you never have before, in no time at all.

World's Top Explorers who Change the World - Selected Books Kit By Kalyani Mookherji (Top 5 Explorers of the World + 7 Explorers who Change the World + 5 Greatest Explorers of the World) by Kalyani Mookherji: This captivating selected books kit presents a comprehensive exploration of the lives and achievements of some of the world's most influential explorers. Authored by Kalyani Mookherji, these books delve into the extraordinary journeys and discoveries of the top explorers who have left an indelible mark on history. Top 5 Explorers of the World: In this book, readers will discover the stories of the top five explorers whose expeditions and adventures have inspired generations. Kalyani Mookherji presents the remarkable journeys of these explorers and their contributions to expanding human knowledge and understanding. 7 Explorers who Change the World: This book narrates the tales of seven explorers who not only discovered new lands and territories but also impacted the world in profound ways. Kalyani Mookherji sheds light on the diverse achievements of these explorers and their lasting legacies. 5 Greatest Explorers of the World: In this book, readers will explore the lives of the five greatest explorers in history, whose voyages reshaped our understanding of the world. Kalyani Mookherji showcases the courage, curiosity, and determination of these explorers in their pursuit of knowledge and adventure. Together, this selected books kit by Kalyani Mookherji offers a captivating journey through the lives of the world's top explorers, celebrating their remarkable achievements and the enduring impact they have had on the course of human history. The author - Kalyani Mookherji - is a celebrated writer and historian with a passion for exploring the lives of influential explorers. Through this selected books kit, she aims to inspire readers with the adventurous spirit and trailblazing journeys of the world's top explorers, highlighting their contributions to human progress and knowledge.

7 Explorers Who Change the World traces these currents in the journey of human exploration by focusing on the most famous explorers in history as well as some lesser known names who are nevertheless responsible for charting new territories. Ranging from classical Greece to the mid twentieth century, traversing all parts of the globe and indeed beyond it, these explorers are testament to the fact that the desire to know and discover has inspired humans across time and space in history.