To the Ends of Earth: How greatest maps were made in Bloomington, MN

This lavishly illustrated book provides a unique insight into the evolution of mapmaking and the science behind it, from the stone age to the digital age.
Britain’s leading cartographic author
takes us on a historical journey through how the greatest maps were created. Exploring
key cartographers
and mapmaking methods, as well as fascinating interludes on subjects such as the very first maps, deliberate mistakes, and superlative maps, this comprehensive guide explores how the
techniques and technology have developed
throughout human history:
•
Evolving methods of surveying
: from the Roman groma, through the naval instruments of the magnetic compass, astrolabes and sextants, to the 20th century revolution of aerial photography
Drawing tools and materials
: from Babylonian maps carved in clay, to digital maps created via touchscreen
• The introduction of
various mapping conventions
and
key components of a map
: from Ptolemy's introduction of longitude and latitude, through the 13th century origins of having north at the top, to the various projections used to represent the Earth.
With
visually stunning historic maps and antique instruments
, this book will engross readers with its fascinating stories of how we came to chart our world.