Discoverers and Explorers

by Edward R. (Edward Richard) Shaw

"Discoverers and Explorers" by Edward R. Shaw is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The work serves as an educational resource aimed at familiarizing readers, particularly students, with the significant figures and milestones in the history of exploration. It chronicles the adventures of various explorers such as Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, and Vasco da Gama, highlighting their contributions to geographic knowledge and the broader understanding of world exploration. The opening of the text establishes a pedagogical framework for teaching geography through historical exploration, suggesting how the understanding of geographical principles evolved from local knowledge to global concepts. It begins by describing the archaic beliefs about the world's geography during the 14th and 15th centuries, such as the common thought that the Earth was flat and the fears sailors held about venturing too far into unfamiliar waters. Shaw introduces early figures like Prince Henry of Portugal, who fostered navigation and exploration, and links their journeys to the growing comprehension of global geography, setting the stage for in-depth profiles of notable discoverers that follow.