Mapping the World: An Illustrated History of Cartography

I purchased this as a gift for my Grandfather who has always been enamored by maps. This is a must have for the cartographer in your family. The detail in the historical evolution of the maps is stunning and can be enjoyed by those interested specifically in the map aspect as well as the history buff interested in the evolution of the nations whose original maps have shaped the world as we know it today.

This book collects lots of interesting maps and brief texts about them. I have several other similar books and this book is among the better ones. On a rainy day, someone interested in this topic could spend several hours being very pleasantly entertained paging through this book.

Stunning pictures, brilliant descriptions and text that is relevant, readable and informative.

Mapping The World: An Illustrated History Of Cartography comes from one of the major publishers specializing in geography subjects: so one would anticipate an exceptional production in book form - and it's not disappointing. Author Ralph Ehrenberg is former chief of the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress, among other major archives: his background lends to a lovely coverage of over a hundred maps from around the world and across the eras. Each full-page color maps is accompanied by a detailed history and explanation setting the map in social and historical perspective. Recommend for any serious world history collection, from the high school level on up.

Two very fine and beautiful books about maps appeared at the end of 2005, published within a month of each other. The other one is "The Map Book" edited by Peter Barber. I happened to discover "The Map Book" before "Mapping the World", although the latter was published first. Like "The Map Book", "Mapping the World" has at its center beautifully reproduced maps in chronological order with lively and informative texts and explanations. Unlike "The Map Book", "Mapping the World" has a single author of the texts, giving the latter a more unified voice and a greater sense of historical narrative. The curious reader may delve deeper into either book on any page and become engaged in the history, culture, and technology embodied in a particular map. Both books sit on my coffee table both for easy access and conspicuous display.