Mapping the World: An Illustrated History of Cartography

Two giants in the world of cartography—National Geographic and the Library of Congress—team up to produce a fascinating new collection of rare and popular maps of unprecedented variety and historical breadth. Mapping the World is a one-of-a-kind collection of cartographic treasures that spans thousands of years and many cultures, from an ancient Babylonian map of the world etched on clay to the latest high-tech maps of the earth, seas, and the skies above. With more than one hundred maps and other illustrations and an introduction and running commentary by Ralph E. Ehrenberg, this book tells a fascinating story of geographic discovery, scientific invention, and the art and technique of mapmaking.