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The Atlas of Microstates
An ideal gift for anyone with an intrigue for geographical curiosities.
Defined as sovereign states with a very small population, land area, or both, microstates serve as fascinating case studies of geopolitical significance. This atlas explores the unique history, politics, and self-determination of the world's smallest states.
Under what conditions do microstates form in the first place? Is there a correlation between the size of a political unit and its relative sovereignty? What contributes to the success of ministates, or, in certain cases, their failure?
From modern day city-states, island countries as well as sparsely populated territories, to historical anomalies, tax havens and aspirant states, this atlas considers a wide range of countries largely defined by their relative smallness.
A beautifully-designed collection ideal for those with an interest in geopolitics and cartographic curiosities, some of the microstates explored in this book include:
• Liechtenstein one of the smallest countries in the world today – and also one of the wealthiest – with a territory that covers approximately 25km from north to south, the only country located entirely in the Alps
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands consisting of two coral atolls with a total area of 14m2, where fewer than 600 people live and the majority of the population is Muslim
• Couto Misto a de-facto semi-independent state which many believe had special sovereign rights granted to it by a 12th century princess, later disputed by Spain and Portugal and eventually partitioned in 1864
These along with many more examples are captured in this engaging atlas full of geographical intrigue.
Defined as sovereign states with a very small population, land area, or both, microstates serve as fascinating case studies of geopolitical significance. This atlas explores the unique history, politics, and self-determination of the world's smallest states.
Under what conditions do microstates form in the first place? Is there a correlation between the size of a political unit and its relative sovereignty? What contributes to the success of ministates, or, in certain cases, their failure?
From modern day city-states, island countries as well as sparsely populated territories, to historical anomalies, tax havens and aspirant states, this atlas considers a wide range of countries largely defined by their relative smallness.
A beautifully-designed collection ideal for those with an interest in geopolitics and cartographic curiosities, some of the microstates explored in this book include:
• Liechtenstein one of the smallest countries in the world today – and also one of the wealthiest – with a territory that covers approximately 25km from north to south, the only country located entirely in the Alps
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands consisting of two coral atolls with a total area of 14m2, where fewer than 600 people live and the majority of the population is Muslim
• Couto Misto a de-facto semi-independent state which many believe had special sovereign rights granted to it by a 12th century princess, later disputed by Spain and Portugal and eventually partitioned in 1864
These along with many more examples are captured in this engaging atlas full of geographical intrigue.
- GenresNonfiction
240 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 1, 2025
This is a beautiful book with a deranged amount of information about these mostly disappeared little places. To pick three at random :
The Free State of Schwenten
Location : Western Poland
Period : 220 days in 1919
Population : Around 1000
The Islands Of Refreshment
Location : South Atlantic Ocean
Period : 1811-1816
Population : 4
Gozo
Location : Malta
Period : 1798-1801
Population : 16,000
Human beings have divided, subdivided and resubdivided the world for many centuries, and this book is all about the tiniest bits that ever could be called independent states. Everybody knows about the Vatican City (0.44 sq km, population 760 or so) and there are a few current holiday destinations which would get name recognition here – Barbados, Channel Islands, Singapore – but most of these statelets have been swept into history and forgotten. The author has unearthed all the (sometimes gory) details about all of them, a page each , and thrown in lots of great photos too. This is excellent browsing for lovers of obscurity for its own sake.
For me I think the most remarkable place featured here is North Sentinel Island, part of the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean. I had never heard of it. It is a de facto independent state since the people who live there have always refused all contact with the outside world. We don’t know what language they speak, what they call their own island, it's thought that the population is around 500, but no one knows. Zoran Nikolic says :
In recent history, there have been several attempts to contact the Sentinelese, but most have ended badly, often with the killing of unwanted intruders.
So the Indian government decided to prohibit all visits, partly to protect the island population against disease they aren’t immune to. Remarkable that there is still one such place left on this crazy planet.
The Free State of Schwenten
Location : Western Poland
Period : 220 days in 1919
Population : Around 1000
The Islands Of Refreshment
Location : South Atlantic Ocean
Period : 1811-1816
Population : 4
Gozo
Location : Malta
Period : 1798-1801
Population : 16,000
Human beings have divided, subdivided and resubdivided the world for many centuries, and this book is all about the tiniest bits that ever could be called independent states. Everybody knows about the Vatican City (0.44 sq km, population 760 or so) and there are a few current holiday destinations which would get name recognition here – Barbados, Channel Islands, Singapore – but most of these statelets have been swept into history and forgotten. The author has unearthed all the (sometimes gory) details about all of them, a page each , and thrown in lots of great photos too. This is excellent browsing for lovers of obscurity for its own sake.
For me I think the most remarkable place featured here is North Sentinel Island, part of the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean. I had never heard of it. It is a de facto independent state since the people who live there have always refused all contact with the outside world. We don’t know what language they speak, what they call their own island, it's thought that the population is around 500, but no one knows. Zoran Nikolic says :
In recent history, there have been several attempts to contact the Sentinelese, but most have ended badly, often with the killing of unwanted intruders.
So the Indian government decided to prohibit all visits, partly to protect the island population against disease they aren’t immune to. Remarkable that there is still one such place left on this crazy planet.
October 3, 2024
Only the highest star rating is needed for this, providing as it does an ideal book that I would have had no idea I needed. I've been guilty in the past of falling down wiki rabbit holes when it comes to micro-nation competitions, such as the Island Games, but this is the gazetteer for people interested in such locales in the first place. It's a reference book, and also ideal for a small browse in the smallest room. I loved it.
It's not concerned purely about the current state of affairs, either – even if it starts with the relatively mahoosive Andorra. No, the second entry is the "Free State of Bottleneck", a secluded swathe of the Rhineland between occupied regions immediately post-WWI, who had to take it upon themselves to be a community to get by, to the extent they apparently colluded en masse to hijack a coal train.
Each entry gets a page of data, with population and region stats, and the flag or other emblem, alongside a map with wonderful clarity. The second page is the essay you need to know all about these places, and trust me – a lot of these places are so small a page is both all we need, and probably about all we do know.
But while this is the smallest look at the smallest places, it can still bring on the rabbit holes – who knew of the flag of Cospaia, with its toothed fly, and the fact it's still buyable today? There are amazing bites of trivia here, such as the reason an Italian town and Napoleon meant a bridge got to be on the Swedish coat of arms that is still there now. Throughout it's fun to see just how many rulers turned up to these places once only, if that, and tragic to think of the times a whole three quarters of one's population were wiped out in one incident (well, there were only four of them to start with…). Little here beats Sentinel Island – and I'll leave you to find out why – but the book itself is veritably a small wonder. A person who has lots of friends to gift this to is a rich man indeed.
It's not concerned purely about the current state of affairs, either – even if it starts with the relatively mahoosive Andorra. No, the second entry is the "Free State of Bottleneck", a secluded swathe of the Rhineland between occupied regions immediately post-WWI, who had to take it upon themselves to be a community to get by, to the extent they apparently colluded en masse to hijack a coal train.
Each entry gets a page of data, with population and region stats, and the flag or other emblem, alongside a map with wonderful clarity. The second page is the essay you need to know all about these places, and trust me – a lot of these places are so small a page is both all we need, and probably about all we do know.
But while this is the smallest look at the smallest places, it can still bring on the rabbit holes – who knew of the flag of Cospaia, with its toothed fly, and the fact it's still buyable today? There are amazing bites of trivia here, such as the reason an Italian town and Napoleon meant a bridge got to be on the Swedish coat of arms that is still there now. Throughout it's fun to see just how many rulers turned up to these places once only, if that, and tragic to think of the times a whole three quarters of one's population were wiped out in one incident (well, there were only four of them to start with…). Little here beats Sentinel Island – and I'll leave you to find out why – but the book itself is veritably a small wonder. A person who has lots of friends to gift this to is a rich man indeed.
December 24, 2024
The Atlas of Microstates is a wonderful non-fiction book highlighting tiny countries, islands, and archipelagos throughout history. From contemporary places like the Maldives to historical places almost always caused by or conquered by the same empires or tyrants, I was surprised at some of the information within the book.
I had never heard of beyliks before this, and I enjoyed reading about Ahi and other microstates who were semi-independent beyliks following the collapse of the Eastern Roman Empire.
My only dislike of the book comes in its design, as it has light grey for the behind the text yet a strange, vibrant yellow border when I read it. This may be just a quirk of the NetGalley version pre-publishing though.
Thanks to Collins Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
I had never heard of beyliks before this, and I enjoyed reading about Ahi and other microstates who were semi-independent beyliks following the collapse of the Eastern Roman Empire.
My only dislike of the book comes in its design, as it has light grey for the behind the text yet a strange, vibrant yellow border when I read it. This may be just a quirk of the NetGalley version pre-publishing though.
Thanks to Collins Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews