Mapping the World: An Illustrated History of Cartography

by Ralph E. Ehrenberg

Mapping the World is a one-of-a-kind collection of cartographic treasures that spans thousands of years and many cultures, from an ancient Babylonian map of the world etched on clay to the latest high-tech maps of the earth, seas, and the skies above. With more than one hundred maps and other illustrations and an introduction and running commentary by Ralph E. Ehrenberg, this book tells a fascinating story of geographic discovery, scientific invention, and the art and technique of mapmaking.

Mapping the World is organized chronologically with a brief introduction that places the maps in their historical context. Special "portfolios" within each section feature key cartographic innovators and maps of exceptional artistic quality or significance, such as the 1507 Waldseemüller Map, the first to use the name America. Unusual and surprising maps are also presented, including a set of playing cards that contained a secret escape map for American prisoners in Germany during World War II.

With its broad historical and cultural range, unmatched variety of maps from the finest map collections in the world, more than one hundred illustrations, and a fresh and authoritative perspective on the history of cartography, Mapping the World will delight everyone with an interest in maps and mapmaking like no other book on the subject.

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

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2005

Reviews

[Philip · Rating 2 out of 5]

Looked interesting, but after about an hour or so I realized a little cartography goes a long way. Abandoned the text early on, but then even thumbing through the illustrations and captions soon grew repetitively boring. Only the final 20-30 pages when it got into the 20th Century did things actually become interesting (at least to me). Cool scroll-along maps used by pilots in WWI; a hand drawn Japanese map of the damage at Pearl Harbor; and then some bits and pieces about modern mapmaking technology.

Other and better books out there - for die-hard cartophiles only.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm in charge of my library's maps, and there's so little map collection instruction that I've been casting about for anything that will give me a better understanding about maps in general. This is a very specialized history of maps, using specific maps as examples of changes and advancements.

This book is most useful for someone deep into map minutiae. It's not for relaxed reading, and there wasn't much useful for my work. A bit like A Place For Everything: The Curious History of Alphabetical Order, there were a lot of well-duh moments: mapmakers didn't always use north, consistent scale wasn't always a given, and other improvements that were made over time but now taken for granted.

As a printed work, this book has some issues. Importantly, the text will frequently refer to a specific section of the accompanying map, only for the discussed area to be eaten by the binding. A big miss on the part of the editor.

Since this is older now, no need for any library to purchase. Most useful for students doing projects on specific maps or map technologies.

[Jamil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maps are v. cool to look at. My favorites from this book:

"1803 Iklim Afrika (Ottoman Map of Africa)"
"1136 Map of China, Yu Ji tu (Map of the Tracks of Yu)"
"1789 Detail of Paris, Carte Geometrique de la France"
"1815 Detail of A Delineation of the Strata of England and Wales with Part of Scotland"
"1941 After-Action Damage Assessment Map of Air Attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec 7, 1941 by Comdr. Mitsuo Fuchida"
"1944 Escape and Evasion Map of Southwestern Baden-Wurttemerg Concealed Within Deck of Bicycle Playing Cards"
"1962 SShA Shtaty Virginiyai Merilend, Okrug Kolumbiya (USA States of Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia) by Military Topography Department of General Staff, Russian Military Forces"
"1988 Detail of Mount Everest = Sagarmatha = Chu-Mo-Lung-Ma Feng (Qomolangma)"

[Steven Townend · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately this read like a textbook and although it was interesting as I am interested in cartography the narrative with each map was a very potted history. However it did provide a comprehensive history of cartography and not just traditional western style cartography.

[Amar Pai · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite map from this book:



http://flickr.com/photos/jcruelty/set...

[Lulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...