A History of the World in Twelve Maps

Jerry Brotton's argument is that every map is an argument disguised as an observation: mapmakers throughout history have always made contested choices about what to include, what to center, what to distort, and what to leave off entirely, and those choices reflect the political, religious, commercial, or military priorities of whoever commissioned the map. Rather than a simple story of maps steadily becoming more accurate as measurement technology improved, Brotton traces twelve specific historical maps to show how each one served particular interests — asserting a kingdom's dominance, claiming disputed territory, promoting a religious cosmology, or facilitating colonial trade routes.

This matters because it undermines the comforting assumption that a map is simply an objective picture of the world, showing instead that the seemingly neutral act of putting lines on paper has repeatedly been a tool of persuasion and power, from medieval Christian world maps designed to place Jerusalem at the spiritual center of creation to Cold War-era projections designed to make one superpower's landmass look more threatening or contained.

Who should read it

Readers curious about the hidden politics behind familiar objects, and anyone who enjoys narrative history told through unusual physical artifacts, will find this an engaging entry point. It also suits students of geography or cartography who want historical context for why maps look the way they do.

About the author

Jerry Brotton is a professor of Renaissance studies at Queen Mary University of London specializing in the history of cartography and cross-cultural exchange between Europe and the Islamic world.