This book is about how people discovered their home planet. A great geographical discovery sometimes lasted for centuries, and dozens or even hundreds of researchers took part in it. Among them were not only the famous - Herodotus, Marco Polo, Columbus, Cook, Przhevalsky, Scott - but also the now forgotten and little-known. You will also learn about some theoretical discoveries that reveal life and the structure of the Earth. Sailors and travelers most clearly brought to life the eternal desire of people for discovery and the search for the unknown. The last section of the book is devoted to archaeology. Great archaeological discoveries made over the course of two hundred years have made it possible to lift the curtain on the mystery of human origins, restore the history of ancient civilizations, and get acquainted with the achievements of the greatest cultures of the ancient world.