2/ Where better to begin than legendary board game "Risk".
Played on a world map with 42 territories across 6 continents, players deploy armies, conquer territories, and control continents to gain reinforcements and dominate the board.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_(game)
Risk’s popularity (who doesn't enjoy invading Irkutsk??) saw spin-off games created, each with beautiful maps. For example the Lord of the Rings version below.