After the Map: Cartography, Navigation, and the Transformation of Territory in the Twentieth Century

Maps were essential for governments to understand, manage, and defend their territory until the centurys end when electronic navigation systems displaced them. After the Map argues that this shift changed our experience of geographic knowledge from a God's-eye view to GPS's embedded subjectivity, emphasizing simplicity, reliability, and convenience. This change in geographic perspective transforms the nature of territory, both social and political.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 06 September 2018
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Maps have been an essential tool for governments throughout the twentieth century, providing them with a comprehensive understanding, management, and defense of their territories. During the two world wars, an unprecedented number of maps were produced, serving as vital resources for military operations and intelligence gathering. Cartographers and journalists alike predicted a "map-minded age," where advanced maps would become commonplace and revolutionize the way we navigate and explore the world.

However, by the century's end, a significant shift had occurred in mapping practices. The dominant methods of land surveying and print publication were increasingly replaced by electronic navigation systems, such as GPS. This shift not only changed the way we acquire and use geographic information but also fundamentally altered our experience of geographic knowledge.

In his book "After the Map," William Rankin argues that while traditional maps may not have become obsolete, this shift has brought about a radical change in our perception of geographic knowledge. We have transitioned from a God's-eye view of the map, where the landscape is presented as an objective reality, to an embedded subjectivity of GPS, where our location and orientation are determined by electronic signals.

This transformation of geographic perspective has significant implications for both social and political territory. It challenges the notion of fixed and universal boundaries, as electronic navigation systems allow for greater mobility and connectivity across borders. It also emphasizes the importance of simplicity, reliability, and convenience in mapping practices, as users increasingly rely on digital tools for navigation and exploration.

Overall, "After the Map" provides a thought-provoking exploration of the changing nature of territory in the age of electronic navigation. It highlights the significance of maps as tools for understanding and managing the world, but also emphasizes the need to adapt to the rapidly evolving landscape of geographic knowledge and technology.

Weight: 742g
Dimension: 250 x 184 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226600536