Kenneth Pletcher: 10 books

The Age of Exploration, which spanned roughly from 1400 to 1550, was the first time in history that European powers—eyeing new trade routes to the East or seeking to establish empires—began actively looking far past their own borders to gain a better understanding of the world and its many resources....

There was a time when every voyage contained an element of the unknown. Today, however, the world spreads out before us carefully mapped and plotted. One must credit explorers with this transformation. Readers will devour these tales of explorers who have pushed geographic and personal boundaries, leaving virtually no corner of the globe off limits.

With its flourishing metropolises, China has come to be identified with urban life and rapid technological advancement. Yet much of its landscape also boasts communities sustained by wondrous natural resources, which contribute to the scenic and spiritual beauty of the nation as well as its economic...

Technological advances—including pressurized cabins for hot air balloons, rocketry that powers spacecraft, and deep-sea diving gear—have changed the face of exploration. What hasn’t changed since ancient times, however, is the bravery and inquisitiveness of intrepid individuals at the forefront...

As the Age of Exploration came to a close, the world seemed to be a significantly smaller place than it once was, with more major landmasses identified on the global map. Yet questions and unknowns remained and details had yet to be filled in. Armed with greater knowledge and better equipment than...

With a landscape as diverse as the multitude of people that inhabit it, India hosts a wide range of communities, from remote villages nestled in the Himalayas to thriving urban centers. In many ways, it is a land of contrasts, as reflected in its geography—shaped as much by the annual monsoon season...

Because of its natural wealth, India has long been a tempting prize for invaders, yet foreign forces such as the Mughal Empire and the British did not destroy India’s vibrant spirit. Rather, external influences often became absorbed into the mix of different peoples, languages, religions, and regional...

China’s unmatched ability to reinvent itself over the centuries is perhaps its most timeless asset. Even in the wake of violent civil wars, Mongol invaders, and turbulent governance, China has endured and, in recent times, achieved a level of prosperity rivaled by few other countries in the world....

Crossing geographic and cultural boundaries at a time when much of the world remained uncharted was a challenge faced by ancient explorers. Long before the Golden Age of Exploration, an assortment of travellers ventured into the unknown, uncovering untapped riches of land and resources in the process....

Although the once-fuzzy outlines of the global map had largely been defined by the 19th century, much had yet to be learned. As some explorers continued to search either for resources or for unknown regions, others increasingly embraced a new kind of discovery—that of scientific knowledge. Readers...