This course will explore historic journeys by blending Great Courses lectures with supplemental information and group discussions. Weekly topics include: the earliest explorers, the scientific voyage of Pytheas the Greek, the travelling Irish Monk St. Brendan, Chinese Buddhist Xauanzang’s journey west in the 7^th Century, Leif Eriksson, Marco Polo and Sir John Mandeville, medieval Muslim traveler Ibn Battuta, Portugal’s ventures, Christopher Columbus and more.