IntroductionFrom ancient times to modern days, people have laid trails across the land. If we follow their footsteps along these routes, we find stories of migrations, discoveries, wars, and the settling of new countries. They tell us of tests of faith and dreams for the future. The journeys may be long or short, but you'll be amazed by how far they've reached, the traces they've left, and the lives they've changed.The story of how the first humans reached North America is still uncertain because solid evidence is tough to find. Ice Age melting flooded the earliest possible route from Asia across Beringia. But other civilizations did leave visible clues in the remains of their roads. The conquering Roman Empire ruled Britain for over 400 years, due chiefly to their well-built road system. You can still travel parts of these Roman roads today. Across the world, in 16th-century South America, an ancient culture left similar proof of a well-organized realm: Inca roads were a marvel of engineering in a mountainous setting. Another well-used trail needed no construction: the feet of millions of animals blazed a migration route across Tanzania's Serengeti plains, followed closely by nomadic people whose lives are still linked to this seasonal movement.Routes have offered promises to people through the ages. Since the ninth century, pilgrims have quietly hiked the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain to strengthen their faith. In the late 1800s, thousands rushed to conquer the short but treacherous Chilkoot Trail in Alaska in hopes of finding the gold they'd chosen to worship. Around the same time, the Trans-Siberian Railway--the world's longest railway line--opened Russia's vast undeveloped lands to new settlement and commercial potential. Later, amid tough economic times in the 1930s, Americans flocked west on a new road, Route 66, eager for the end of the Great Depression.Two ancient routes in Asia have seen turmoil with far-reaching impacts. The Khyber Pass between Afghanistan and Pakistan, historically a route for invaders, has a dangerous reputation in today's political scene. The Ho Chi Minh Trail, a series of jungle trading pathways, became known instead for devastation and death during a 20th-century war.These 10 routes, at different times and in different places, have pointed the way to discovery, to wealth, and even to disaster. Shoulder your backpack, check your map, and set off through these stories of fascinating journeys. Excerpted from 10 Routes That Crossed the World by Gillian Richardson All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
