In 5th Century BC, in and around western coast of Africa. Hanno was an explorer from Carthage, Tunisia. He is best known for exploring the western coast of Africa, possibly as far as Gabon. The purpose of his expedition was to start new colonies along the North African coast, which he did successfully in what is now Morocco.

Mid 19th Century, the Arctic Region. Robert McClure was an Irish explorer, best known for being the first person to travel through the Northwest passage. However, he and his crew were trapped for 3 years and had to be rescued by the HMS Resolute. He became a national hero and was acquitted of charges of abandoning his ship, HMS Enterprise which technically belonged to the crown.

Mid 16th Century Brazil, where he was captured by cannibals. Hans Staden was a German explorer and soldier who went on the Brazilian expedition because he had a strong desire to travel. Despite being German he was on a Portuguese expedition. While in Brazil, he was captured by the Tupinamba people who were enemies of the Portuguese. He was well liked by his captors because he was able to heal their king. However, they refused to grant him his freedom and he ultimately escaped in 1555.

In 1503, Mecca and Arabia Peninsula. Ludovico di Varthema was an Italian explorer who travelled all over the world. He is believed to be the first non-Muslim European to perform a Hajj. While in Mecca, he was accused of being a spy but managed to talk his way out. He also visited India, Borneo, Persia, Yemen, Ceylon, Burma and Indonesia.

Late 1630s, the length of the Amazon River. Pedro Teixeia was a Portuguese explorer who became the first European explorer to travel the entire length of the Amazon. He wanted to investigate the Spanish lands in South America and to rescue missionaries who had abandoned their work and fled from the native people. His expedition allowed Portugal to expand its lands in South America significantly.

Late 16th Century, Angola, looking for silver. Paulo Dias de Novias was the grandson of the more famous explorer Bartolomeu Dias, who became the first European navigator to round the southern tip of Africa. Novias was the first Captain-Governor of Angola when it became a Portuguese colony. Attracted by the prospect of the famous silver mines of Cambambe, he founded the settlement of Lunada, the capital and the largest city in Angola.

1831-46, Eastern Australia which he mapped. Thomas Mitchell was a Scottish explorer best known for surveying the eastern parts of Australia specifically New South Wales and Queensland. He made four expeditions and each time mapped new areas particularly the inland rivers and mountain ranges.

In 1675, South Georgia island, which is part of Antarctica. Anthony de la Roche was Anglo-French merchant who accidently landed on South Georgia island, Antarctica after his ship was blown off course on the way to Brazil. He is believed to be the first person to discover the land in Antaractic region. While getting back on course to Brazil, Roche came across several inhabited islands like Gough Island which were previously discovered by other explorers but were unclaimed.

Early 20th century, China, specifically the Silk Road. Langdon Warner was an American archaeologist and art historian. He went to China and traveled along the Silk Road for research and discovery purposes. He generated a lot of controversy by removing artifacts and sometimes damaging ancient art. Back home he was a professor at Harvard and Curator of Oriental Art in Fogg museum. He is reputed to be one of the models for Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones.

Late 19th & 20th Centuries, the Himalayas. Fanny Bullock Workman was an American geographer, cartographer, travel writer and one of the world’s first female mountaineers. Her enjoyment to mountaineering was escalated when she visited the Himalayas in 1899 and made 8 trips in 14 years. Her greatest achievement was climbing the 22,735 feet, Pinnacle Peak in the Himalayas. Those who traveled with her said she was barely affected by altitude sickness that would plague the experts.

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