For anyone who loves maps and the rich history of map-making, this project, based in the Department of Geography at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will provide hours of pleasure and learning. The project focuses on drawing attention to the history of maps and mapping. Its flagship publication, a multi-volume series called the History of Cartography (which currently has 6 volumes, although Volume 5 is still forthcoming), tracks cartography from prehistory through the twentieth century. The site and its materials will appeal to academics and the general public alike, as PDF versions of the volumes make it easy to skim through and enjoy the maps and graphics, or read and study in depth. The project is "designed specifically to facilitate the understanding and use of maps as human documents, [offering] the only comprehensive and reliable work that studies the people, cultures, and societies that have produced and consumed maps from prehistoric times to the present." Beyond the publication series, visitors to the site can read the annual newsletter, find links to articles, learn more about the project and its staff, and enjoy videos that feature cartography-related lectures and presentations.
Comments