What is an explorer? What drives someone to go into the unknown? Certainly courage, determination, a restless energy and exceptional leadership qualities, often coupled with a streak of ruthlessness, egoism, recklessness and a generous quota of luck. What the explorers in this book have in common most of all, perhaps, is an obsessive curiosity and an inner conviction.From the conquering journey through Asia of Alexander the Great and his army in the 4th century BC to the first steps on lunar soil by Armstrong and Aldrin in 1969, this book charts the progress of those who were not content with the horizons of the known world but determined to discover what lay just beyond.Arranged in chronological order, this book tells the stories of 30 of the most famous names in the history of exploration. Each journey is plotted on a specially drawn map and illustrated with photographs, paintings, drawings and engravings - both modern and archival. Brief biographical notes highlight the major events in the life of each explorer, and quotations from their writings or from those of their companions provide an insight into their thoughts and feelings, their motivations and frustrations.Nine features interspersed throughout the book focus on voyages of discovery within a continent or bring together plant hunters and naturalists, pioneer women explorers and those who venture into space.A time chart sets all the explorers in their historical context and provides a graphic reference to the world of exploration. Read Less