Read more
Informationen zum Autor Jerry Brotton Klappentext 'Fascinating, panoramic, wonderful' Tom Holland A magical book which explores how the world was seen at twelve points in history, through twelve extraordinary maps and the minds of those who made them What you see depends on where - and when - you are looking from. As Jerry Brotton's enthralling book shows, maps have shaped our view of the world throughout history, and are themselves shaped by the ideas, prejudices, systems of power and creativity of their age. Brotton examines twelve world maps from global history - from the mystical representations of ancient civilizations and the fourteenth-century Mappamundi to the satellite-derived imagery of today - to show how, by reading them, we can better understand the worlds that produced them. You will not look at a map in quite the same way again. 'The intellectual background to these images is conveyed with beguiling erudition ... maps prove to be less conveyors of information than theatrical performances ... There is nothing more subversive than a map' Andrew Linklater, Spectator 'Fascinating and thought-provoking ... An achievement of evocation' Anthony Sattin, Literary Review 'Elegant, powerfully argued' David Horspool, Guardian , Books of the Year 'Rich and adventurous' John Carey, Sunday Times 'A highly rewarding study ... you will emerge with a detailed insight into how maps reflect, expose and manipulate the societies in which they are made' Simon Garfield, Mail on Sunday [A] fascinating and panoramic new history of the cartographer's art... Brotton's idea of tracing within maps the patterns of human thought is a wonderful one -- Tom Holland Guardian As this mesmerising and beautifully illustrated book demonstrates, maps have, since ancient times, carried vast symbolic weight ... rich and endlessly absorbing history -- Sinclair McKay Daily Telegraph An elegant, powerfully argued variation on the theme of knowledge as power and ignorance as powerlessness -- David Horspool Guardian Rich and adventurous -- John Carey Sunday Times An achievement of evocation...a fascinating and thought-provoking book -- Anthony Sattin Literary Review Brotton is acutely sensitive to the social, political and religious contexts which unravel why maps were made, for whom and with what axes to grind -- Robert Mayhew History Today A highly rewarding study -- Simon Garfield Mail on Sunday Engrossing reading -- Carl Wilkinson Financial Times The intellectual background to these images is conveyed with beguiling erudition ... There is nothing more subversive than a map -- Andrew Linklater Spectator It is a wonderful history, which will delight anyone with an interest in history and geography -- David Wooton TLS Zusammenfassung Examines the significance of 12 maps - from the almost mystical representations of ancient history to the satellite-derived imagery. This title recreates the environments and circumstances in which each of the maps was made, showing how each conveys a highly individual view of the world....
