A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels - Volume 18: Historical Sketch of the Progress of Discovery, Navigation, and; Commerce, from the Earliest Records to the Beginning of the Nineteenth; Century, By William Stevenson

"A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels - Volume 18" by Robert Kerr et al. is a historical account written in the early 19th century. This comprehensive work systematically explores the evolution of navigation, discovery, and commerce across both sea and land from ancient times through the early 19th century. The volume aims to detail the progression of human exploration and trade, highlighting significant commercial enterprises and discoveries that shaped the world. The opening of this volume presents an engaging preface and historical sketch that delves into the early interactions of ancient civilizations with maritime commerce, specifically focusing on the Phoenicians, Egyptians, and Israelites. It outlines the geographical contexts that influenced these nations' trading and navigational practices and reflects on the development of navigation as a science intertwined with commerce. The text emphasizes how early trade was a driving force behind the discovery of new lands and the establishment of routes, establishing a foundation for the more extensive accounts that will follow in the book.