A History of the World in Twelve Maps

Jerry Brotton's "A History of the World in Twelve Maps" profoundly redefines our understanding of cartography, revealing maps not as objective scientific tools but as subjective constructs deeply intertwined with the prevailing power, authority, and creativity of their eras. Through a meticulous examination of twelve pivotal world maps, ranging from ancient mystical representations to contemporary satellite imagery and Google Earth, Brotton unveils how each map reflects and shapes the worldview of its time. He brilliantly illustrates how the Jerusalem-centric Mappamundi, the groundbreaking early Korean map, Diogo Ribeiro's 16th-century global vision, and the politically charged Peters projection all serve as cultural artifacts, embodying the ideas and biases of their creators. This scintillating work vividly recreates the historical contexts in which these maps were conceived, arguing that they are never definitive or neutral, but rather powerful mediators of our perception of the world. Readers will emerge with a transformed perspective on how maps construct, rather than merely represent, our reality.