The Atlas of Atlases

This book includes maps from the Ptolemys of the 15th century to the present day which show history in the making. The atlases are drawn from the Cadbury Bequest to Birmingham Central Library who have continued the work of the 19th-century collector by acquiring fine atlases from all periods of history, and all the great atlases are represented. Also included is a commentary from the collection's curators detailing the classical and medieval tradition, including the work of Ptolemy and the Mappa Mundi, the era of exploration and the flowering cartography stimulated by the voyages of Columbus, da Gama and Magellen. The "Dominance of the Dutch" looks at the work of Ortelius and Mercator while the "Age of Empires" traces the growth of the British and French empires and increasing interest in scientific exploration, while the "Modern Age" shows how atlases helped serve the aims of growth of empire, expansion of knowledge and the advancement of "civilization". The development of the craft of map-making and surveying is also covered with photographs of the lavish contemporary buildings.