From the pioneering excursions of the ancient Egyptians to the first Polar expeditions, this is a thrilling tour through the history of exploration. Ray Howgego has selected more than 150 of the most influential and unusual journeys, setting each firmly in its historical context. These include Alexander the Great’s quest to reach the fabled ocean that encircled the globe; Diego de Almagro’s ill-fated excursion to Chile and the strange case of Colonel Fawcett, rumoured to have been abducted by a goddess in the Amazonian jungle. Howgego chronicles the personalities and the motivations, the conditions that had to be endured, and the contribution that each voyage of discovery made to our knowledge of the world. Organised chronologically, and illustrated with maps, paintings and photographs, this is a catalogue of human ingenuity, fortitude and daring.