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Scotland: Mapping the Nation
Whilst documents and other written material are obvious resources that help shape our view of the past, maps too can say much about a nation's history. This is the first book to take maps seriously as a form of history, from the earliest representations of Scotland by Ptolemy in the second century AD to the most recent form of Scotland's mapping and geographical representation in GIS, satellite imagery and SATNAV. Compiled by three experts who have spent their lives working with maps, Mapping the Nation offers a fascinating and thought-provoking perspective on Scottish history which is beautifully illustrated with complete facsimiles and details of hundreds of the most significant manuscript and printed maps from the National Library of Scotland and other institutions, including those by Timothy Pont, Joan Blaeu and William Roy, amongst many others.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 22, 2021
Scotland: Mapping The Nation
The book is beautifully illustrated with maps of developing Scotland, from its very first by Ptolemy in 90AD, to current renditions of Scotland. Until the 15th Century, Scotland was wholly mapped by people outside Scotland; by the 16th Century, the Scots had joined in, and; by the 17th Century Scotland was one of the most mapped Countries in the World. By this, map-makers across other Countries then turned to Scotland for their object of mapping and geographical works.
Christopher Fleet takes us through the various methods of mapping that, at first, were somewhat more of an art through secondary-sources than a defined science; he lists the cartographic works of Timothy Pont, Robert Gordon, and John Blaeu as instrumental in our view of a map as being visual and informative documents, and as bases for almost all further map-makers. And as such, the Ordnance Survey was formed in the early 1800s to detail all matter of geographical, geological, biological, risks, and harms of the natural landscape.
Maps also became both a military and political tool, as these maps could show boundary lines of estates or lands to the title-holder, but also to the king himself of the land that is his right to rule, seen by James V of his navy setting sail to circumnavigate Scotland in demonstration of his kingly power.
"By far the best funded and the most comprehensive mapping of the Country has been for military purposes - one notable result of Scotland's turbulent history of warfare and conflict, particularly with England."
The book is beautifully illustrated with maps of developing Scotland, from its very first by Ptolemy in 90AD, to current renditions of Scotland. Until the 15th Century, Scotland was wholly mapped by people outside Scotland; by the 16th Century, the Scots had joined in, and; by the 17th Century Scotland was one of the most mapped Countries in the World. By this, map-makers across other Countries then turned to Scotland for their object of mapping and geographical works.
Christopher Fleet takes us through the various methods of mapping that, at first, were somewhat more of an art through secondary-sources than a defined science; he lists the cartographic works of Timothy Pont, Robert Gordon, and John Blaeu as instrumental in our view of a map as being visual and informative documents, and as bases for almost all further map-makers. And as such, the Ordnance Survey was formed in the early 1800s to detail all matter of geographical, geological, biological, risks, and harms of the natural landscape.
Maps also became both a military and political tool, as these maps could show boundary lines of estates or lands to the title-holder, but also to the king himself of the land that is his right to rule, seen by James V of his navy setting sail to circumnavigate Scotland in demonstration of his kingly power.
"By far the best funded and the most comprehensive mapping of the Country has been for military purposes - one notable result of Scotland's turbulent history of warfare and conflict, particularly with England."
June 2, 2020
Some lovely images to pour over and places to dream about visiting again
February 3, 2014
Well, I like maps and this book takes you on a wonderful journey through some of Scotland's history via some of it's most iconic maps. Engaging and packed with information!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews