Maps, Not Facts

Just the maps, ma'am.

1 minute read

December 30, 2018, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Mimi Kirk shares a collection of historic maps notable more for their intent to persuade, rather than to impart any representation of fact or reality.

PJ Mode has collected 800 of these so-called "persuasive maps" in a digital library hosted by Cornell University. Kirk describes the collection:

Mode has sorted them into themes, from imperialism to religion to slavery, many with meticulous notes about their history and meaning. One of the oldest, from a 1506 Italian manuscript, gives an overview of hell, while more recent acquisitions include a facetious 2012 New Yorker cover of the Second Avenue subway line.

The pictures to prove the existence of the library, at least, are included in the article.

Thursday, December 27, 2018 in CityLab

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