Atlas of Exploration

By Oxford University Press

Book Overview

The history of exploration is the history of human fascination with the world. Almost from the beginning of humanity, people have felt impelled to venture into unknown regions, displaying incredible endurance and bravery in the face of harsh environments and hostile inhabitants. From the daring Polynesian navigators who, more than 3000 years ago, first began to advance across the vast Pacific Ocean in dug-out canoes with only the stars to guide them, to the Victorian missionaries and adventurers who opened the way for European colonial expansion, to the scientists of our own time, with their sophisticated navigational and observational technology, explorers have tested their imaginations against an uncharted world.
The Oxford Atlas of Exploration is a splendid and authoritative history of this endeavor. With a highly readable and informative text, supported by nearly 100 specially drawn maps and 300 vivid photographs and illustrations, it traces the journeys of the discoverers of our world, recording their achievements and their varied motives: desire for land, wealth, and fame; missionary zeal; political and cultural empire-building; scientific inquiry; and sheer, irresistible, curiosity.
The book begins with the earliest recorded journeys of exploration in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and ranges from the time of the Phoenicians' voyages in the North Atlantic and Egyptians' travels in the Arabian Sea. We follow Cortes in Mexico, La Salle on the Mississippi, Darwin in the Galapagos Islands, James Cook in the Antarctic, and many others. In each section, the main routes of explorers are depicted on graphic relief maps, while photographs, paintings and engravings brilliantly portray the great variety of terrain through which these courageous men and women passed. Also included are maps from different historical periods which reveal cartographers' growing knowledge of the shape of the world's continents and oceans. The final section of the atlas contains fascinating biographical details of many of the great explorers, geographers, and cartographers whose achievements have supplied our sense of the shape and texture of the earth. It is followed by a time chart which summarizes the history of exploration over 5000 years.
From the High Andes to the ocean depths, from the Sahara desert to the polar ice caps, The Oxford Atlas of Exploration allows us to rediscover all the extraordinary ways humans have come to know their world. Opening its pages is taking the first step on a grand adventure.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 019521353X
• ISBN13: 9780195213539
• Release Date: October 1997
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 3.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.9" x 12.1"

Customer Reviews

Oxford Atlas of ExplorationThis hiostorical atlas is superbly done

This historical atlas is superbly executed: typical of Oxford publications. The content is comprehensive and extends from pre-biblical times up to the space age. It's loaded with maps and photos which are beautiful to behold and elucidate the well written text. My only criticism is that the color choices for lines marking the routes of explorers or expeditions need to be reevaluated. On many of the maps showing multiple routes the colored lines are often difcicult to distinguish from one another. For example, in some cases two slightly different shades of red are used that are difficult to differentiate. On some maps the colored line (especially yellows or greens) is too similar to the map background to clearly discern.

Atlas of Exploration

Everything that was promoted about this book was true: the excellent maps, photographs, drawings, diagrams, works of art. The text is easy to follow and covers regions, nations, and individuals. We learn what was accomplished and how and why. The book covers material from ancient times to the very modern. The information is well edited and includes a timeline of exploration, biographies, and index. This book is a great addition to any library.