Explorer Paul Rose takes us on a journey through the pioneering names and events in the history of world discovery. Originally broadcast in winter 2006, the first four episodes are being repeated as part of the Journeys of Discovery season on BBC Four.
CIRCUMNAVIGATION Ferdinand Magellan set out to find the westward route to the Spice Islands but his crew ended up circumnavigating the world. Watch a clip
THE MAKING OF CAPTAIN COOK
Paul Rose reveals the nautical adventures that transformed Captain James Cook from a naval nobody into a national hero. Watch a clip
THE ICE KING In 1892 Fridtjof Nansen announced a seemingly suicidal plan to be first to the North Pole. He's now considered a forefather of polar exploration. Watch a clip
THE FIGURE OF THE EARTH Rose tells the story of three 18th century Frenchmen who set off on a perilous mission to measure the shape of the planet. Watch a clip
HANGING BY A THREAD When the USS Squalus submarine became stranded in the Atlantic in 1939, maverick designer Charles Momsen rescued the crew. Watch a clip
You will need RealPlayer to access the clips above. Visit WebWise for help downloading RealPlayer
HAVE YOUR SAY
Send us your thoughts about the series
