Fascinated by what lies beyond the boundaries of human experience, men and women have throughout history been irresistibly drawn to venture into the unknown. Lavishly illustrated, To the Ends of the Earth charts the astonishing feats of history's most intrepid explorers. From the early voyages of the Ancient Greek mariner Colaeus, who first discovered that beyond the Mediterranean lay a far greater ocean, to the compelling tale of the race for the Poles, this book encompasses the discovery and exploration of the great continents and oceans of the world. Whether motivated by the prospect of conquest, the spirit of scientific enquiry, nationalism, fanaticism, or just plain curiosity, the explorers in this book dared to seek out the most remote and inhospitable places on Earth and in so doing changed forever our perception of the planet. "I determined never to stop until I had come to the end and achieved my purpose." - David Livingstone (1813-1873), African explorer