After the Map: Cartography, Navigation, and the Transformation of Territory in the Twentieth Century by William Rankin

by William Rankin

For most of the twentieth century, maps were indispensable. They were how governments understood, managed, and defended their territory, and during the two world wars they were produced by the hundreds of millions. Cartographers and journalists predicted the dawning of a “map-minded age,” where increasingly state-of-the-art maps would become everyday tools. By the century’s end, however, there had been decisive shift in mapping practices, as the dominant methods of land surveying and print publication were increasingly displaced by electronic navigation systems. In After the Map , William Rankin argues that although this shift did not render traditional maps obsolete, it did radically change our experience of geographic knowledge, from the God’s-eye view of the map to the embedded subjectivity of GPS. Likewise, older concerns with geographic truth and objectivity have been upstaged by a new emphasis on simplicity, reliability, and convenience. After the Map shows how this change in geographic perspective is ultimately a transformation of the nature of territory, both social and political.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Cartography, Science, Geography, Maps

Hardcover

First published March 28, 2016

Reviews

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot say that I understand most of this book, but it is fascinating to contemplate. We have travelled far in the name of progress. Technology has changed the world exponentially in the last century and it continues to change how we view the world. Rankin uses the word geo-epistemology to describe his interest in how geographic technologies intertwine with our daily lives and for political use. These systems have been developed for use by governments and especially by the military. We are moving further from an intuitive view of the world to a life which could easily become beyond our control.

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book was too dense with details and too much technical jargon over mathematics and cartography. Difficult for a reader with no background knowledge or earlier use of maps/GPS to pick up and appreciate.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review: http://www.waml.org/ib/waml-informati...