Despite the apparent differences in technology used today and throughout history, there’s still one thing we share with people from generations before — a love for traveling. Before the first cities were built and before any gas-powered automobile even made its way to the streets, numerous people already strived to go farther than the horizon. Since then, these people have earned the title of adventurers. Thanks to their journeys, they had the opportunity to see the world from another angle, discover what was once unknown, and share this newfound knowledge with others upon their return. Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of history’s greatest explorers, shall we?
Marco Polo
Some of us may be familiar with or have played the game called Marco Polo. It’s like Tag, but the “it” is blindfolded and can only rely on his sense of hearing. Well, to some degree, the “its” behavior is similar to the Italian explorer himself, Marco Polo. Discovering new aspects of the world alongside his father and uncle, Polo had the chance to set foot in many places throughout their adventures, including countries we now know as Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and China. By the time he returned to Italy, Polo told his close friends and loved ones about the things he saw, heard and experienced. Thankfully, all of these accounts have since been preserved in the book, The Travels of Marco Polo.
Nellie Bly
At a young age, Elizabeth Jane Cochrane already showcased a knack for journalism. In response to a local newspaper column, Cochrane submitted her own piece, using the pseudonym “Lonely Orphan Girl.” Impressed, the newspaper company’s editor asked for the anonymous writer to introduce themself, so Cochrane did. She was then offered a chance to work for them as a full-time writer, and that is where she developed her pen name, Nellie Bly. Along the way, she also became known for introducing a new take on investigative journalism. However, that isn’t the only thing she’s given credit for. After reading Jules Verne’s book, Around the World in Eighty Days, Nellie was inspired to reenact the protagonist’s journey. Well, she undoubtedly circumnavigated the world like Phileas Fogg did, but there was one thing different – it took her 72 days instead of 80!
Jacque Cousteau
Whenever we think of adventure, we often associate the action with going to new lands, traversing the skies, or cruising the seas. Well, there’s still another place we’re still not too familiar with – the deep blue. To this day, only five percent of the ocean has been discovered, with the remaining 95% just waiting to be uncovered. Even so, the investments and efforts made to reach that 5% isn’t something we should just overlook. It took years of research and work done by numerous people, one of which is Jacque Cousteau. A scientist, innovator, and explorer, Jacque’s contributions to the study of the great unknown continue to be acknowledged to this day. Along with co-developing the Aqua-Lung, the first self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, Cousteau also wrote his discoveries in a series of books. With that said, one of its most recognized titles is The Silent World: A Story of Undersea Discovery and Adventure.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes
For the last person in this article, let’s talk about one of the world’s greatest living explorers. Born on March 7, 1944, in Windsor, Berkshire, Sir Ranulph Fiennes was the type of person who often challenged himself. Well, thanks to these challenges, Fiennes has since taken credit for achieving numerous things, including completely crossing Antarctica on foot, reaching both the North and South Poles, and climbing to the summit of Mount Everest. He succeeded in doing the latter back in 2009 at 65 years old! With that said, like the previously-mentioned adventurers, Fiennes also documented his journeys. By the looks of it, thanks to these explorers preserving their journeys via books and other mediums, it’s safe to say that we’ll be having more adventurers in the coming years, each with their own achievements and breakthroughs.
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