For millennia the location of the Nile River's headwaters was shrouded in mystery. In the nineteenth century, there was a frenzy of interest in ancient Egypt. European powers sent off waves of explorers intending to map the unknown corners of the globe -- and extend their colonial empires. Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke were sent by the Royal Geographical Society to claim the prize for England. Burton, a decorated soldier, was mercurial, subtle,...

"The harrowing true survival story of an early polar expedition that went terribly awry--with the ship frozen in ice and the crew trapped inside for the entire sunless, Antarctic winter--in the tradition of David Grann, Nathaniel Philbrick, and Hampton Sides. In August 1897, the young Belgian commandant Adrien de Gerlache set sail for a three-year expedition aboard the good ship Belgica with dreams of glory. His destination was the uncharted end of...

"In the early 1500s, Ponce de Leon was one of the most important Spanish military figures in the Caribbean. He made his first voyage across the Atlantic with Christopher Columbus and then, after years of battle with the native Taino, became the first governor of Puerto Rico. Although the story of his search for the Fountain of Youth is entirely fictional, his noteworthy expedition to - and naming of - Florida is one of his greatest legacies"--

While he is now primarily associated with the quest for the legendary Fountain of Youth, Ponce de León was not merely involved in this fruitless search. A powerful figure in the Caribbean, he became the first governor of Puerto Rico. He led the first European expedition to Florida and was responsible for giving the state its name. The title discusses Ponce de León's treatment of Native Americans and the issues with crediting him with the "discovery"...

This interesting book charts the travels of Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano. Searching for a sea route to the Pacific Ocean, he explored the Atlantic coast of North America. High-interest headlines, fact boxes, and images highlight Verrazzano s exploration of New York Bay, Cape Cod Bay, the coast of Brazil, and his interactions with Native peoples.

In this title, readers will explore routes to Asia with John Cabot. Follow Cabot's journey on two voyages seeking the Northwest Passage. Along the way he surveys the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, and discovers the Grand Banks.

Details the life of Matthew Henson, one of the first people to reach the North Pole.

"The story of an uncovered voyage as colorful and momentous as any on record for the Age of Discovery--and of the Black mariner whose stunning accomplishment has been until now lost to history. It began with a secret mission, no expenses spared. Spain, plotting to break Portugal's monopoly trade with the fabled Orient, set sail from a hidden Mexican port to cross the Pacific--and then, critically, to attempt the never-before-accomplished return, the...

"Could you survive being stranded in the Antarctic? Ernest Shackleton: Survival in the Antarctic in the True Survival series explores Shackleton's shocking survival story. The book is written with a high interest level and lower level of complexity to serve more mature students reading at lower levels. Clear visuals, colorful photographs (including images of the survivors!), and considerate text help with comprehension and wild facts hold the readers'...