cartography

Presents an illustrated overview of the history of cartography, tracing the chronology of map making design and technique from prehistory to the twentieth century.

Illustrations and simple text explain how to read and understand maps, and discuss what children can learn from maps about the world's population, geography, countries, climates, plants, animals, and resources.

Presents an illustrated guide to globes and various types of maps about countries, land, water, climate, people, the economy, and history, discusses latitude and longitude, how to read maps, and includes activities and a glossary.

Illustrations and simple text describe what a cartographer does, the ways in which maps are created, and how maps are used to show the climate, history, and geography of the United States.

"'Portolan charts,' so called from the Italian adjective portolano, meaning 'related to ports or harbours,' were born during the 12th century in the maritime community. These charts, drawn on parchment and crisscrossed with lines referring to the compass directions, indicated the succession of ports and anchorages along the shores, and were used by European sailors exploring the world up until the 18th century. Not only used as navigational instruments on boats, they were also produced for wealthy sponsors in the form of illuminated images of the world, to illustrate the economic and political interests of the major European sea powers. This book takes stock of the state of knowledge on these maps, bringing together contributions from a dozen European specialists, who trace the history and diversity of styles and places of production of these charts. This type of mapping is approached from three angles. The first part, 'The Mediterranean,' refers to the manufacture and use of the first charts, centered on the Mediterranean, and the persistence of this tradition in the Mediterranean basin until the 18th century. The second part, 'Wide Open Spaces,' shows how these regional charts have evolved from a technical and iconographical point of view at the time of the great European voyages, in order to include the oceans and new worlds. The third part, 'The Indian Ocean,' shows how these charts, in a maritime area where ancient civilizations coexisted, were dependent on other cartographic traditions (ancient, Arab, Asian) before joining the information reported by Portuguese sailors and European trading companies in the modern era."--Publisher's website.

Traces the history of maps, from the oldest known map etched on a clay tablet to a radar image from the space shuttle, and discusses how they have evolved with changes in knowledge, science, culture, and tools.

Provides an introduction to physical maps, looking at the information they provide about land, its resources, weather, waterways, and other features.

Presents information about the physical features, climate, land use, political divisions, religions, languages, population, transportation, plants, animals, and other aspects of Europe and the Middle East.

Text, photographs, and maps introduce information about the climate, regions, people, cultures, animals, plants, resources, politics, and religions of Asia.

Text and maps introduce information about the climate, regions, people, cultures, animals, plants, resources, politics, and religions of Africa.