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The Mapmakers: The Story of the Great Pioneers in Cartography - From Antiquity to the Space Age
The Mapmakers: The Story of the Great Pioneers in Cartography - From Antiquity to the Space Age

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Author: John Noble Wilford
Publisher: Pimlico
Category: Book

Buy Used: £29.15





Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 3 reviews
Sales Rank: 638809

Media: Paperback
Edition: New Ed
Pages: 528
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.7

ISBN: 0712668128
Dewey Decimal Number: 526
EAN: 9780712668125
ASIN: 0712668128

Publication Date: April 4, 2002
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days

Also Available In:

  • Hardcover - The Mapmakers
  • Paperback - The Mapmakers
  • Hardcover - The Mapmakers
  • Paperback - The Mapmakers: Revised Edition (Vintage)

Similar Items:

  • Wall and Piece
  • The Discovery of France

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Interesting account of the history of mapmaking   August 29, 2002
 11 out of 12 found this review helpful

What can I add to the description and the first review? This book describes how we came to know the shape of the earth, the distribution of land and oceans, mapmaking, the history of voyages of discovery, and how the earth was mapped. Later chapters descibe mapping the oceans, the moon, and even Mars. It is clearly written and well illustrated. I would have liked more on map projections, with illustrations. I also found the book to be pretty Americanocentric.


4 out of 5 stars A historical and intellectual delight   June 21, 2002
 16 out of 17 found this review helpful

This book is not a coffee-table book full of beautiful maps - rather this is a book which skilfully and eloquently covers the history of mapmaking from primitive ancient charts to modern satellite-aided mapping of other worlds. Like good popular science books, 'The Mapmakers' enlightens the reader about the evolution of mapmaking, often at quite a technical level, without ever resorting to condescending prose or losing the reader with jargon. And best of all, it is richly embellished with historical detail. Mapmakers have been amongst the world's greatest adventurers, and the tales of bravery and hardship, all in the name of mapmaking, are as exciting as any. I heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in maps and the human drama which has accompanied their creation through the ages.


5 out of 5 stars Great review of technical advances thru 1981.   August 21, 1998
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

Many aspects of world history are seen in a different light after reading how man learned to accurately map and use maps for world exploration. European and Americas mapping is handled extensively. Africa and Asia are lacking in historical context, perhaps due to lost or unavailable records. Being published in the early 1980's, the book is missing the last 2 decades of technological advances of Global Positioning Systems in use today. Otherwise a WONDERFUL READ for anyone interested in geoscience, geography, maps, or history.



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