Explorers have existed everywhere. But why did Europeans systematically measure and conquer the world? In his brief history of exploration, Jürgen Sarnowsky unveils the vast panorama of an era that was obsessed with the mysteries and riches beyond the seas. Based on numerous travel accounts from five centuries, the book illustrates how the world was explored since the late Middle Ages, driven by curiosity, a thirst for adventure, and the race for land and wealth. The author recounts the early exploration of Asia and the West African coast, the journeys of Vasco da Gama, Columbus, and Cortés, the South Sea voyages of Magellan and Cook, the search for the Northwest Passage, and the research expeditions of Alexander von Humboldt. His engagingly written book brings the reader close to the mentality of the explorers, allowing us to experience the history of exploration firsthand.