Off the Edge of the Map: Marco Polo, Captain Cook, and 9 Other Travelers and Explorers That Pushed the Boundaries of the Known World

This book profiles eleven of the most significant explorers and travelers in history, alongside figures such as Marco Polo and Captain James Cook. It covers a wide range of motives: some explorers were driven by faith, some by the search for trade and wealth, and others by a desire to discover what lay beyond the known map. Ibn Battuta's journeys across the Islamic world, Magellan's voyage for Spain, and Shackleton's attempt to cross Antarctica on foot are among the stories told. Together the accounts show how these journeys reshaped trade, politics, and understanding, and how the urge to explore still prompts people to test their limits.