The history of the exploration and development of the boundless expanses of the World Ocean is a history of bravery, enterprise, and perseverance. At the center of the grand design of the popular French writer Georges Blon is Man and the Sea in their diverse, complex, and almost mystical relationships. All great navigators were, in a certain sense, captives of the sea, which forever captured their hearts: no matter how terrible the deprivations of a sea voyage were, they would always rush once again towards the formidable element, towards new dangers and discoveries. Columbus, Magellan, Heyerdahl — all of them, like the ancient Vikings or Phoenicians before them, were obsessed with the sea, the dream of new sea routes and unknown lands. The maritime epic of Georges Blon tells of the great conquerors of the World Ocean. This edition includes captivating tales about the history of human exploration of the Mediterranean Sea and the polar seas, as well as the history of piracy. The book is illustrated with reproductions of paintings, engravings, maps, and photographs - historical images related in one way or another to the exciting plots of Georges Blon, and also includes extensive reference material, including maps, dictionaries of names, nautical terms, and names of ships and aircraft.
