How to Draw a Map
How to Draw a Map by Malcolm Swanston, published by HarperCollinsPublishers in 2019, is a comprehensive exploration of the art of map-making, spanning from ancient astronomical maps to contemporary GPS technology. This 280-page book delves into the historical significance of maps and their profound impact on human civilization, touching on themes such as geopolitics and social science. Through the lens of cartography, the author presents a narrative that intertwines personal experiences with the broader evolution of mapping practices over the millennia.
Readers will find a detailed examination of how maps have shaped human understanding and interaction with the world, influencing various aspects of life, including exploration and diplomacy. The book highlights the journey of mapmakers, particularly the collaborative efforts of father and son cartographers Alexander and Malcolm Swanston, showcasing the creativity and skill involved in crafting these essential tools. How to Draw a Map invites readers to reflect on the intricate relationship between maps and the societies that create them, offering insights into both historical geography and the technology behind modern mapping.
Official synopsis Publisher
How to Draw a Map is a fascinating meditation on the centuries-old art of map-making, from the first astronomical maps to the sophisticated GPS guides of today.
Maps have influenced humanity in many unexpected ways: life, death, sexual reproduction, espionage, war and peace. How to Draw a Map traces the story of mapmaking – cartography – from the first scratchings on the cave wall to the detailed high-tech ‘navigator’. This is the story of human conceptions, often misconceptions, of our world. It is also a very personal story about a mapmaker’s journey through life – the exciting new perspectives and the occasional misadventures.
Over the last 5,000 years societies and empires have risen and fallen; most, if not all, attempt to record their own visions of our world. In the 15th century, Europeans developed a global reach with their oceanic ships, exploring outward into the world, revealing new possibilities, peoples and opportunities. Mapmakers recorded this journey, revealing to us a window into past triumphs and disasters. The story continues into our own day when diplomats carve up our globe, presenting what we now see as the ‘modern’ world.
In How to Draw a Map, father and son cartographers Alexander and Malcolm Swanston demonstrate the skill, creativity and care involved in the timeless art of creating maps – and what these artefacts reveal about the legion of mapmakers who went before us.
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