Historical Atlas of Exploration, 1492-1600

by Angus Konstam

As Europe emerged from the psychological restrictions of the Middle Ages, the new learning of the Renaissance emboldened a handful of adventurers to seek new horizons across the ‘Ocean Sea’. And so began the Age of Discovery. A story of intense passion, rivalry, and excitement, it is still seen as one of the greatest periods of global discovery. In this readable study of the subject, re-discover Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama’s search for a sea route to the Indies, John Cabot’s exploration of North America, and Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe. Historical Atlas of Exploration contains a superb selection of contemporary illustrations and 70 detailed full color maps that follow each explorer on his travels. Discover with them the wonders of the New World, the Pacific Islands, the Indies, the Spice Islands, and mysterious, colorful Asia.

Genres: Maps, History

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Angus Konstam is a Scottish writer of popular history. Born in Aberdeen, Scotland and raised on the Orkney Islands, he has written more than a hundred books on maritime history, naval history, historical atlases, with a special focus on the history of piracy.

Reviews

[ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for the 2025 library challenge.

[Laurie Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of maps and interesting details that we used for our homeschool Rhetoric history studies.

[Brett Stortroen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic resource for exploration of the years 1492-1600. The timelines and the colored maps were very impressive. I also loved the logical layout.

[Terry Jones]

Great book to understand the impact various countries' explorers had on shaping world politics.