Four Points of the Compass - The Unexpected History of Direction

In Four Points of the Compass, Jerry Brotton takes the reader on a journey of directional discovery. He reveals why Hebrew culture privileges east; why Renaissance Europeans began drawing north at the top of their maps; why early Islam revered the south; why the Aztecs used five colour-coded cardinal directions; and why no societies, primitive or modern, have ever orientated themselves westwards. He ends by reflecting on our digital age in which we, the little blue dot on the screen, have become the most important compass point. Throughout, Brotton shows that the directions reflect a human desire to create order and that they only have meaning, literally and metaphorically, depending on where you stand.<>

Product details

• Authors: Jerry Brotton, Brotton Jerry
• Publisher: Penguin Books Uk
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Release: 04.09.2025
• EAN: 9780141999562
• ISBN: 978-0-14-199956-2
• No. of pages: 208
• Dimensions: 129 mm x 198 mm x 15 mm
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > History > Regional and national histories; HISTORY / World, HISTORY / Social History, Social & cultural history, HISTORY / Historical Geography, HISTORY / Maritime History & Piracy, TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Cartography, HISTORY / Expeditions & Discoveries, TRANSPORTATION / Navigation, Geographical discovery & exploration, maritime history, General & world history, Cartography, map-making & projections, Social and cultural history, General and world history, Geographical discovery and exploration, Cartography, map-making and projections, Navigation & Seamanship, Historical Geography, Navigation and seamanship