Explore vanished western worlds and the ideas that shaped them.
This engaging survey reveals how ancient Europeans and American civilizations imagined geography, myth, and engineering, from seas beyond the setting sun to the great works that tied empires together. fans of history will see how maps, legends, and monuments reflect human curiosity and ingenuity.
Across continents and centuries, the book traces the mix of exploration, belief, and technology that formed early ideas of the world. It looks at Homer’s flat earth, Greek and Roman theories, and the myths that gave heroes a home beyond the horizon. It also dives into the engineering feats and urban life of the Americas, including the Inca and Aztec capital networks, along with trade practices and daily customs. The narrative connects ancient imagination with real construction and social organization, offering a clear view of how cultures understood their place on the globe.
- See how ancient writers and explorers reached for explanations about the shape of the world and the mysteries of the Western Ocean.
- Learn about the Aztec and Inca centers of power, their engineering feats, and how their cities were planned.
- Discover debates about Atlantis and other Western lands, and how later scholars tried to locate them.
- Consider how art, religion, and daily life reflected broad ideas about geography and travel.
Ideal for readers of world history, archaeology, and the study of myth and science across cultures.