Today, every child knows that the Earth is round. But how did people in the past envision our planet? The Eskimos imagined it as an island of ice floating on the sea. For the Aztecs, it was a gigantic cross. The Chinese, on the other hand, believed they lived in a world shaped like an inverted teacup. Christopher Columbus assumed the Earth was shaped like a pear. Guillaume Duprat has collected, retold, and illustrated humanity's conceptions of our planet in wonderful images. Richly equipped with maps and symbols, numerous illustrations, and fold-out panels, this volume offers an exciting journey through time for both young and old. A timeline that highlights important milestones of knowledge from ancient times to the present provides additional orientation.