"The History of Great Travels" was written on the basis of a thorough study of sources: the works of geographers, notes of travelers, diaries of expedition participants, materials of state archives. Jules Verne's romantic fiction and ardent fantasy give way to a rigorous and objective presentation of historical facts. The first book "Discovery of the Earth" is devoted to the history of geographical discoveries from the VI century BC to the XVII century. The author tells about the travelers of Ancient Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages and the era of geographical discoveries.