This lavishly illustrated book provides a unique insight into the
evolution of mapmaking and the science behind it, from the stone age to
the digital age.
Britain's leading cartographic author takes us on a historical
journey through how the greatest maps were created. Exploring key
cartographers and mapmaking methods, as well as fascinating interludes
on subjects such as the very first maps, deliberate mistakes, and
superlative maps, this comprehensive guide explores how the techniques
and technology have developed throughout human history:
- Evolving methods of surveying: from the Roman groma, through the
naval instruments of the magnetic compass, astrolabes and sextants, to
the 20th century revolution of aerial photography
- Drawing tools and materials: from Babylonian maps carved in clay,
to digital maps created via touchscreen
- The introduction of various mapping conventions and key
components of a map: from Ptolemy's introduction of longitude and
latitude, through the 13th century origins of having north at the top,
to the various projections used to represent the Earth.
With visually stunning historic maps and antique instruments, this
book will engross readers with its fascinating stories of how we came to
chart our world.
