Product Description
The subject matter is engaging enough: an survey of ancient Egyptian, Carthaginian, & Greek expeditions outside of their own lands. This includes early Greek forays to the western Mediterranean and Black Sea; Egyptian & Carthaginian explorations around coastal Africa; ventures into the African interior (limited though they were), Pytheaus the Massilian's journey to Britain and Ultima Thule (Iceland?), etc. Along the way, it touches on a host of related subjects-- geography, anthropology, trade, politics, ancient shipbuilding/seamanship, etc. The author tries, where possible, to rely upon ancient texts to recount these expeditions-- primary ones where they exist, secondary ones where they do not-- and then seeks to use modern knowledge of geography, linguistics, astronomy, climatology and ecology, and other features to see if it is possible to corroborate these ancient accounts. As such, a lengthy quotation from say, Herodotus, may be followed by data from a publication of modern "Sailing Directions" from the U.S. Hydrographic Office.