Between the late-fifteenth and late-eighteenth centuries, European sea explores dramatically changed human understanding of the world. These handsome books combine brilliant color illustrations and concise text in an attractive magazine-style format. They recount the achievements and adventures of explorers, and feature between 70 and 110 full-color illustrations in each book.When President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803, he sponsored an expedition to map the territory. It was led by Merriweather Lewis and William clark. This great journey marked the culmination of North American exploration that had begun with the European navigators of the sixteenth century. The long adventure is recounted here in words and pictures.