Maps That Made History: The Influential, the Eccentric and the Sublime

Few people can resist the appeal of old maps and plans. Even in these days of disposable mapping - from satellite navigation to customized road directions at the click of a mouse - the historical map continues to present a unique perspective on our changing world. Here we explore 25 glorious examples. The emphasis is on the story behind the map: what it reveals about its creator and users, from the first explorers to the railway builders. This thought-provoking collection features maps that chart societies as well as land, sea, and skies; maps that have influenced and inspired; and perhaps most revealing of all, maps that misrepresent.

Lez Smart is a lecturer in education at Goldsmiths College, University of London. His interests include history and information technology; he has published widely on these subjects as they relate to education. Maps have always been a passion, informing his professional and leisure interests. He lives with his family in South London.