First published in 1912, this book documents the main geographical discoveries of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries following the decline of Portugal and Spain, when the main outlines of the world map were completed by their successors among the nations of Europe. The aim of the volume is to look at significant episodes and benchmarks of discoveries in these centuries, arranged into periods by region rather than into chronological world-view, so that the position of each separate achievement can be seen in relation to the general advancement of geographical knowledge.