The book is dedicated to how humanity has been developing our planet for many thousands of years. This is a story full of tragic outcomes, dramatic struggle and curious accidents. The history of the settlement of continents and islands, the conquest of the seas, oceans and poles. History of great geographical discoveries. The heroes of the book are ancient sailors and medieval Vikings, Chinese naval commanders and Russian merchants, geographers, cartographers and shipbuilders, travelers and pirates, serious researchers and dashing adventurers.