The Story of Maps

Written in the late 40s by an American curator of maps in a university library and librarian at another, Lloyd Brown's knowledge of maps, cartography and basic surveying is breathtaking. The literary style is slightly dated, and he tends to include everything rather than be selective, but persistence is very well rewarding. A comprehensive coverage of everything cartographic from the Ancient Greeks to the 1940s. (Obviously he writes before the huge advances in the field since the 40s)

Though I have not completed this relatively early work, so far I have found it a must read for anyone interested in both general history, science and map making and the large variety of purposes for which many type of maps were made. Despite the fact that it was written in the 1940s it is still very current and relevant. It is a very scholarly work and requires patience and care in reading.

For brazilian readers:É um livro interessante. Tem um boa bibliografia para consultas e aprofundamentos.Para aqueles que buscam um livro que permita entender a história do mapa e os elementos que ajudaram a construir a ciência cartográfica e geográfica, recomendo a leitura. Para aquele que fugiram das aulas, o mapa veio primeiro que as ciências (geografia e cartografia)!Destaco dois capítulos que são quase inexistentes na literatura brasileira, principalmente para os geógrafos, a evolução do conhecimento antigo para a técnica cartográfica e sobre o sistema de localização/orientação latitude e longitude.