Pathfinders: A Global History of Exploration

Felipe Fernandez-Armesto has added a rather unique new slant to the well-chronicled history of exploration, repositioning it as an eons-old process of de-globalization and re-globalization. Under the assumption that humans started out with a concise cultural geography when Homo Sapiens first arose, "explorers" then initiated the mass migration of humans throughout the world, leading to cultures diverging and losing contact with each other. This process was reversed when classical explorers brought the world back together - a process that continues today as globalization. This is an interesting thesis and it certainly helped Fernandez-Armesto construct an organic history of exploration that is unique and very inclusive. He covers all historical episodes of exploration with equal enthusiasm, combining well-known tales of Columbus, Magellan, and company with episodes like the Polynesian dispersal throughout the Pacific and unsung efforts to explore the interiors of Siberia and Australia. Fernandez-Armesto also debunks some well-worn historical myths along the way and compiles the latest knowledge from archeology and anthropology. But the problem with his unique theoretical structure is that he combines many types of human cultural behavior into an increasingly vague category called "exploration," from the earliest migrations and diasporas to the worst in colonialism and imperialism. There is also a very inconsistent regard for legends and folk histories - Fernandez-Armesto fully believes some but ruthlessly dismisses others. Overall the whole endeavor becomes a rather tedious repeat of information that the knowledgeable reader has probably seen many times - although here it is repeated in a book with a unique twist on the subject and a vast sense of inclusiveness. [~doomsdayer520~]

I only write reviews for books I like, and this one I liked a lot. An excellent overview of global exploration. The author looks at pretty much every culture on the planet, and how each searched the world around it, and how humanity spread and intermingled. This is extremely readable lay history, transforming much of the dry narrative we encountered in history texts at school into engaging story. Many new insights into familiar historical scenarios. For example, L'anse aux Meadows, the famous 'Norse' ruins on Newfoundland, may in fact be the remains of a settlement of Irish monks, not vikings. They shared a similar technology. Anything found there could have been brought by St. Brendan wannabes (spindle whorls and such). Great stuff! Might buy this one as Christmas gifts for people.

This was a gift for my dad, who's a voracious reader and fascinated by people and history. He loved this book!

I have had the opportunity of reading Professor Fernandez-Armesto`s book that describes the history of global exploration. I must confess that it has enlightened my mind up to the point of finding answers to many of the questions I have quoted since my school years. His original and provoking theories justify why Europeans seek the discovery of new then unknown lands (when boats where able to sail upwind, when the Canary Islands entered the map and when the determination of rulers and financiers made it possible) whilst other peoples with similar or even great development of sailing technology and enjoying of similar trade winds did not succeed in conquering other territories as they lacked the sense of long term view. I have it on my bedside table to refresh my memory on who did what. It has already given me the opportunity of sharing what I have learnt through its lecture with my friends and I am sure each time I review it, will be able to gather new interesting information. I strongly recommend scholars and everyone interested in history to browse its pages and glean ideas from our history to learn about our future.