This examines the Carta Marina, its cartographer, and geographical discoveries. It presents the extraordinary creatures and cultural details that brought sixteenth-century Scandinavia to life. Among…
Few historical maps illustrate the link between geography, exploration, and imperial ambition. La Louisiane is the celebrated map of French North America by Guillaume de…
The Kangxi Atlas occupies a remarkable place in the history of cartography. During Kangxi’s reign (1661–1722), court scholars produced the Kangxi Atlas. It marked a…
Centuries ago, Europeans pictured the Great Wall of China in geographic imagination. Maps did not portray it as a recognizable feature until much later. Travelers’…
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are among the most remarkable historical maps ever produced in the United States. At first glance, they may look like ordinary…
Maps are often treated as neutral instruments. They measure distances, record boundaries, locate cities, and give us a visual framework for understanding the world. Yet…
During the sixteenth century, no map in Europe was more valuable or more closely guarded, than Spain’s Padrón Real (Royal Standard Map). At a time…
Among the most visually striking forms of cartography ever produced, panoramic city maps occupy a unique space between geographic representation and artistic illustration. Often referred…
Few English cities possess a cartographic history as rich and visually compelling as York. Encircled by medieval walls, shaped by Roman foundations, Viking streets, Georgian…
Here is a curated list of period and near-period maps (1860–1865) that depict the Confederate States of America as a country or distinct political entity.…