"History has two great stories to tell": the story of how humans diverged over many millennia, and the history of how they then reconverged, "lac[ing] the world with contact routes." Pathfinders: A Global History of Exploration by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto chronicles human exploration throughout history, beginning with the population of the earth through the first scouts and continuing until the near era of globalization. Felipe Fernández-Armesto is a historian and the William P. Reynolds Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame. Fernández-Armesto is a prolific, award-winning author whose work is published in 27 languages. Many of his books were written for a popular audience, including 1492: The Year the World Started, Our America: A Hispanic History of the United States, Nearly a Thousand Tables: A History of Food, and The Conquistadors : A very short introduction to name a little. According to Candice Millard of The New York Times, Fernández-Armesto's "breadth of knowledge and depth of understanding" of "such an enormous subject" amply qualifies him to write a history of exploration. He leaves no doubt in the reader's mind about his diligence in researching and telling a story of human exploration in great detail. Michael Upchurch of the Seattle Times says Felipe Fernández-Armesto's "sharp wit, concise phrasing, and incredibly deep and diverse knowledge are a constant pleasure." According to Fernández-Armesto, “explorers were the infrastructure engineers of history, the builders of the roadways. of culture, searchers of links, creators of webs. » For many, the idea of ​​exploration conjures up images of adventure and excitement, risk and anticipation. Explorers are the pioneers,......middle of article......d which challenges contemporary American romanticized ideas about the motivations of early explorers and their contributions to world history, such as the tendency of Christopher Columbus to exaggerate and the forced tyranny of Captain John Smith. submission of the Powhatans. Parts of Pathfinders recalled Tolstoy's presumption in War and Peace that the reader had extensive prior knowledge of war and military strategies and tactics. Many of Fernández-Armesto's explanations and descriptions relied on presumed extensive knowledge of maritime navigation and world geography that many people in the general public may not possess. There is no doubt that “wanderlust, vainglory and self-romanticism have always been part of the psychic equipment of explorers.” This same “triple nature: fame, curiosity and thirst for gain” will surely transport modern-day explorers to new, yet unexplored realms...