History of the World in Maps

From Babylonian tablets to Google Maps, the world has evolved rapidly, along with the ways in which we see it. In this time, cartography has not only kept pace with these changes, but has often driven them. In this fully revised and updated edition, over 70 maps give a visual representation of the history of the world. Every map tells a story and this book tells the incredible history of our world through maps, and includes many famous examples of cartography, along with some that deserve to be better known. See countries and cities come and go, empires rise and fall, significant geographical discoveries, and key historical events unfold. Key maps shown include: Babylonian clay tablets, c.2300 BC and c.600 BC - some of the world's oldest surviving maps Hereford Mappa Mundi, c. 1290 - medieval map of the world Aztec City Maps 1524/1541 - precious images of the Aztec capital and their migrations before the Spanish came Waghenaer chart, 1584 - a forerunner to modern nautical charts. Selden Map of China, c. 1620 - Ming map of China and South-east Asia The Scramble for Africa, 1852/1898 - the European powers rush to colonise Africa Booth Poverty Map, 1898 - mapping deprivation in Victorian London Ypres, 1918 - mapping the deaths in one of the First World War's bloodiest battles Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 - map used by President John F. Kennedy during the crisis COVID map, 2021 - a map of the Global Pandemic