Product Description
Great Britain and Ireland enjoy a rich cartographic heritage, yet historians have not made full use of early maps in their writings and research.This is partly due to a lack of information about exactly which maps are available.With the publication of this volume from the Royal Historical Society in 1994, we now have a comprehensive guide to the early maps of Great Britain. Now available from Cambridge University Press, this volume provides an essential reference tool for anyone requiring to access maps of the British Isles dating back to the medieval period and beyond. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Charles Hapgood's classic 1966 book on ancient maps is back in print after 20 years. Hapgood produces concrete evidence of an advanced worldwide civilisation existing many thousands of years before ancient Egypt. He has found the evidence in many beautiful maps long known to scholars. Hapgood concluded that these ancient mapmakers were in some ways much more advanced in mapmaking than any people prior to the 18th century. It appears they mapped all the continents. The Americas were mapped thousands of years before Columbus. Antarctica was mapped when its coasts were free of ice. There is evidence that these people must have lived when the Ice Age had not yet ended in the Northern Hemisphere and when Alaska was still connected with Siberia by the Pleistocene, Ice Age 'land bridge'. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (54)

An excellent book
Some time back I found an article on pre-history civilizations, including cities, found off the coast of India that had been established when the seas were quite a bit lower. Naturally, when the ice-age ended and the sea rose again, they were inundated and lost to conventional archeology. Then I heard and read about villages found in the Black Sea 300-500 feet below the current water level, where people had been living at a time when the Black Sea was not connected to the Mediterranean Sea. My curiosity was piqued to know more about pre-history, and so, searching our local (small) library I came across this book (unfortunately in B&W). It is a very fascinating read, and I tend to believe his theories about how the maps came about, that is, that some of the maps were created by copying multiple older maps onto a single map with the result being inaccuracies. It's not simply plausible, but given that the copiers were not personally familiar with the geographic realities, almost inevitable. While some have criticized the author's work on this point, i.e. the inaccuracies in the maps and the authors attempt to explain them by delineating the maps into discrete areas with their own true north's, I think he got the process exactly right. What would be most likely is that individual maps of discrete areas of the earth would have been created by sea-farers and that land-lubbers would "stitch them together" to make consolidated maps, necessarily introducing errors. I would be more, and extremely suspect if any of the maps had been a totally accurate portrayal of the world of any era supposedly produced in the 14th century.

The maps of Antarctica and Greenland sans ice are truly inspiring simply because they are so accurate (the accuracy of the Antarctic map is verified by the USAF cartographic department so take with a grain of salt the dismissal of these maps by other commentors) as to their actual coastlines rather than simply being outlines of their ice flows; they obviously had to have been made at a time when they were not covered by ice, putting their creators back some 10,000 years. Which gets me back to the evidence of civilizations pre-dating the ice age. As the author points out, discovering and developing new ideas, information or technologies is difficult, whereas destroying them only takes an instant and they can be lost for a long, long time. I am most struck by the accuracy of the ancient maps as regards longitude and can't help but wonder how the ancients measured it in the (supposed) absence of accurate time-pieces or time-keepers; there's something lost to pre-history there that we have yet to find.

I wish it were possible for archeology to explore the mass of civilization lost beneath the seas to the rising waters following the last ice age - and I'm not referring to any Atlantis myths - simply because civilizations - even our own - tend to congregate more along the sea shore and river banks for reasons, primarily, of commerce, convenience and travel. What we know of history for the most part is that which was built after the last ice age, or that which was built on the highest ground, and sadly, it seems, it is primarily European or Middle Eastern to the almost total exclusion of Asian or cultures which may have existed in the South-East Asian archipelago (which would look far different if the sea level was 350 lower). I've no doubt this is because early archeology was first and foremost interested in proving that the bible was history (as the author points out, you find that which you seek) and to this day still takes a Euro-centric view of all pre-history. But I digress...

To the open-minded, this book is a treasure-trove of information you've probably never run across before, and as unbelievable it may seem to the skeptics, I personally have no doubt that the author did a terrific job at piecing together the pieces of the puzzle in a very disciplined way, yes, even those sections of maps that need some realignment to improve their accuracy. I highly recommend the book if you're at all interested in history or pre-history.

Interesting read, but not the best scholarship
While searching for the earliest map of Antarctica, I heard about the Piri Reis Map of 1513 and the Oronce Fine (Oronteus Finaeus) Map of 1531. And in due course came across this book. I had my reservations, based on some of the info I had read, about Hapgood (as well as the Map librarian at LOC telling me he was a nut), but I feel that in this book he makes an interesting case for his hypothesis of an early seafaring/map making culture(s). Many of his theories about the maps he and his students examined are backed up by other experts and even military cartographers. Yet after digesting what I'd read a little more and reading The Piri Reis Map of 1513 [see my review], Hapgood makes a number of assumptions and, at times, disregards or distorts evidence in order to better make his case. I think my lack of prior knowledge in this area made it more believable. Also, even though this book contains a lot of cartographic and mathematical descriptions, it is still quite readable for the average person. Finally, this edition (1966) could have had better (in color and sharper) pictures of the maps.

A Must Read on Lost History of Antiquity
Many modern scholars dismiss out of hand ancient maps of things that the mapmakers shouldn't have known about. Basiclly they are saying, "This doesn't fit our verison of history, even though the maps are obviously real and not a figment of our imagination, so we will ignore them." I suspect that many of these people have not studied these maps in the depth that Hapgood did. Even the history of maps, The Mapmakers: Revised Edition, completely ignores them. The detail of analysis here by Hapgood is significant enough to at least point at some missing accounts in the history of man. Hapgood being mentioned in the recent film 2012 (actually for another one of his books) has helped bring his ideas back out of the shadows. Will scholars take up his research or continue to ignore the evidence? There are a lot of crackpots out there, but Hapgood isn't one of them. See also Fingerprints of the Gods: The Quest Continues (New Updated Edition).

Reading these maps is like riding the oceans: many surprises!
Buying this type of book for me is the result of reading many other books: it fills a gap between history, culture and geography.
In 1966 Charles Hapgood ended his quest unto our human scattered knowledge about the changing boarders of our seas: a proof of discontinuous progression in making maps.
His conclusions about glaciation, retreating ice, rebounding surface, sinking elsewhere, not only concern our past but our future as well.
People not interested in the technical details better use another book.
The tremendous amount of interconnected notes for me was very useful.

Evidence of advanced civilization
I first learned about Charles Hapgood's Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings in Graham Hancock's Fingerprints of the Gods. Hapgood's treatise certainly does not disappoint; although technical, it builds its own case step by step, and we follow as if we were Hapgood's students. The conclusion, following the many other 15th and 16th century maps produced to bolster the case, is absolutely spellbinding and breathtaking.Hapgood doesn't come out and identify the lost advanced civilization that left us those maps, but what's left unsaid is more than enough to launch a truth seeker in the proper direction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Disappointment
This volume was a total disappointment.It contained few historic maps of Arizona and fewer details of its history.A large part of the book were boring maps of various demographic details hardly relating to what you would want in a supposed historical atlas.You can find better data free on the web...

Hardcover book purchased at Amazon described as slightly used.
Book is in excellent condition except for a raised seal mark as having been a prized member of someone's library.

Fair
This was a mandatory textbook purchase and it was interesting and valuable during the course.

Historical Atlas of Arizona
Great book for the research I'm doing for an historical novel.It gives information about the terrain, plant life, stage and train routes, mines and military reserves.

The product arrived in perfect condition, and promptly. ... Read more

Product Description
This historical novel (with maps, edited scrolls, andsources) depicts the last days and tragic end of the Essenes, theJewish sect credited with producing the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS). Thestory links the Essenes with personages of 'the sect within' (theNazarenes), some of whom assembled with them in the wilderness nearthe Dead Sea to participate in the "final war" spoken of in their WarScroll. This war was to involve a conquering messiah, a heavenly host,and the Sons of Light against the Sons of Darkness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

People of the Dead Sea Scrolls
This historical novel gives some insight into who were these people and why did they write the scrolls. Some intelligent conjecture is used to fill in the story which follows the life journey of a man as he discovers who heis and what he should believe in. At a time of deep religious convictionthe Essenes turn into a fatalistic religious group, not unlike somemodernistic cults. The reader may draw their own parallels here. A verygood read with excellent historical background.

Reviewer from Texas Tech University
The reader enters into the world of the Essene people shortly after the life of Jesus, during a time of great conflict.With war approaching, we follow the characters in their journey to the city of Sekaka and learn ofscrolls being written and treasures being hidden.The author offers anentertaining and educational work by combining historical facts hepersonally helped discover with an interesting story.A good book for bothscholars and those interested in learning more about the time depicted inthe Bible. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A one-of-a-kind resource for studying or traveling the American West
This is a wonderful book. With all my summer road trips around the West, I don't know how I got along without it but from now on it will always be in arms reach. Almost all the maps are simple line maps just showing national and state boundaries so that for instance the map of WWII Japanese-American relocation camps is the sparse line map with dots sprinkled around the West marking the location of the camps. On the facing page is a concise history of the subject of the preceding map. There are obvious subjects like the Oregon Trail, and more obscure subjects like the distribution of hog farms. My favorite is a map showing the dispersion northward of horses left behind by Spanish explorers and that were to become the favored mode of transportation of the Plains Indians. I have a couple of similar books just for California but to my knowledge this is the only such map book for the American West.

curious about the history of the west
If you are curious about the events that took place during the development and history of the west, this book is for you.If you are looking for a general reference book on the west, this is it.The book has a map and a one-page description for that particular topic.The topics include flora and fauna, geology, railroad expansion routes, emigrant trails, indian battles and exploration.Topics are not limited to 19th century history.Some maps and information are available for World War 2 POW camps and military installations. ... Read more

Product Description

The Earth has existed for more than 4600 million years, during this time continents have formed, broken up, collided and drifted apart. Land masses have been submerged, sea beds lifted up, mountain ranges and sea basins have formed. Plants and animals have appeared, evolved and disappeared. This atlas presents to the general reader the history of the Earth since its formation. The atlas draws on the latest scientific data to produce maps and illustrations which reconstruct the changing geography of the Earth.

Customer Reviews (1)

Ancient (really ancient) atlas
Intended for the general reader, this well illustrated book is an atlas of the Earth from the Archean to the present. Geological concepts are explained well, and are tied together with the paleontology of various periods. ... Read more

Product Description
A comprehensive and wide-ranging account of the historical atlas. It explores the role, development and nature of this important reference tool and discusses its impact on the presentation of the past. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Short on insight, long on useless detail
I read a lot on cartography, particularly cartographic history, and I was excited to get this book. Unfortunately it was very disappointing. It has masses of carto-bibliographical detail, not put to much use in supporting a broader argument. And it is very short on any insight or analysis beyond the most superficial and obvious. Historical maps reflect the concerns and attitudes of the times and cultures in which they were produced - I didn't need to wade through this book to know that.This book could be useful for reference, but it won't deepen your understanding. ... Read more

Product Description
"...the city's first atlas of historical maps...destined to have a profound and positive influence on twenty-first-century New York."--from the foreword by Tony Hiss

This lavishly illustrated volume explores New York's urban and social history through rare and beautiful maps of the city produced during the past four hundred years and collected from archives and libraries throughout the world. From a crude woodblock engraving depicting Giovanni da Verrazano's first glimpse of New York Harbor in the sixteenth century to the latest satellite photograph of Manhattan, these important documents offer an unprecedented "avenue to New York's past," as the authors write in their preface-- a fascinating collective portrait of the evolution of America's oldest major city.

Many of the 65 color plates reproduced here have never been published before, and each is accompanied by an engaging essay on the changing physical and social contours of New York as revealed in the map's details and provenance. Opening with a chapter on the discovery of New York Harbor as depicted in sixteenth-century Italian maps, the book explores the bustling Dutch trading outpost of New Amsterdam (the original name for New York), the city as a British colony in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the rise of New York as a port city in the eighteenth century, the Revolutionary War period, and the development of the Manhattan grid, public squares, and parks in the nineteenth century. The city's myriad "worlds within a world" are shown in unusual maps of such diverse subjects as ethnic neighborhoods, midtown vice, and the subway system. Each entry cites the map's date of creation and publication, cartographer, medium, and the institution or private collection where the map is archived. A bibliography and complete index are also included, making this book an indispensable resource for all those interested in New York history, urban history, and antiquarian maps.
Amazon.com Review
From crude woodblock engravings depicting 16th-century explorers'first glimpse of New York Harbor to the latest satellite photographs ofManhattan, the rare maps of New York in this book offer a unique look at thecity's evolution over the past 400 years. Opening with early Italian andDutch antiquarian maps, the book charts the development of ethnicneighborhoods and the Manhattan grid in the 19th century, as well as thelabyrinthine subway system of the 20th century. Each of the 65 color plates,many never before published, accompanies an essay on the changingmetropolis as expressed in the map's details. While the maps areas beautiful and engrossing as any works of art, they also reveal the rich history of New York's urban and social fabric, offering astunning collective portrait of the world's first modern city. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Manhattan Maps
I was pleasantly suprised by the range of the maps sellected and the concise analysis of each one.

5-star-text 1-star-maps
I only wish I had the access to the maps that Augustyn and Cohen had in the preparation of this book.Unfortunately for the reader, these maps are not in the book.What's in "Manhattan in Maps" are photographs of maps which in the case all but 6 of the maps are reproduced in a manner which lets you see the outline of Manhattan and no detail in the map whatsoever.There should have been someone involved in the production of the book who was familiar with other books of this type and included for each map some section enlarged to actual size.Some of the maps featured appeared to have been reduced 10x such as a 72 inch map shrunk to 7 inches.The text is wonderful.If the book is every republished, I hope the editors take heed of the reviews here.

Great Gift for Your Favorite Manhattanite
This is a beautiful book for both those who are fascinated by maps and those with a deep interest in the history of New York City. The preface explains that, "The richness of New York's cartographic heritage is unique among the major cities of the world." It goes on to outline a number of reasons for this, including the city's founding by mapmaking mavens (the Dutch) during a cartographic boom time, its initial status as a commercial interest, its later status as a Revolutionary War battleground, and so on. The selections are spread more or less evenly throughout the four and a half centuries and each is accompanied by an excellent elucidating essay. My own favorites are some of the later, more thematic ones such as an 1834 fireman's guide, an 1842 water pipe diagram, an 1853 insurance company survey, the 1920 ethnic survey, and the 1973 midtown vice map.

Some reviewers have referred to this in an apparently derogatory manner, saying it is a mere "coffee-table" book, to which one can only say that it would be a welcome addition to any New Yorker's coffee-table. It certainly won't satisfy ultra-serious cartographers or historians, but the quality of the writing and research is well beyond what is commonly found in so-called mere "coffee-table" books. In addition to the usual sources (Library of Congress, British Library, New-York Historical Society, New York Public Library), the authors have tracked down maps in archives in Spain, Italy, Holland, and perhaps most impressively, about a third of those presented in the book reside in private collections. Indeed, it's somewhat baffling that people complain about the size of the reproductions -- just be glad they were made available to be seen at all! Not to mention the practical limitations of reproduction: the original dimensions of most of the maps range from 12" x 18" to 90" x 135". These maps were made to cover walls, general headquarters planning tables, no book could possibly make them legible! In some cases, portions of maps are blown up for a detail view, but these don't reproduce very well. The original photos and scans simply don't support the detail and the results are pixilated. This small production problem aside, the book is beautifully produced from a typographic and color standpoint, and is well worth having or giving as a gift to your favorite Manhattanite.

Great book, screaming for a larger edition
I know I'm jumping on the bandwagon here, but the maps are disappointing because they're too small to be scrutinized. The text, however, compensates greatly for this flaw. The chapters are concise but not a word is wasted. I found the section on the British invasion of Brooklyn as well-written and gripping as any thriller. I can only hope that they are planning to come out with a larger edition for the illustrations.

Small Maps, but wonderful commentary
While I agree with one reviewer that the maps depicted in the book are small and difficult to read (more due to the apparent custom of making 17th and 18th century maps totally illegible in any case rather than the editors' layout of them), the commentary accompanying the maps is very illuminating and interesting.The authors also chose to use maps highlighting, for example, '70s-era police practice, '20s-era political classifications and a map of the subway along with the more conventional surveyor's maps; truly a very interesting collection.A good companion to any history of pre-20th century NYC, such as Gotham. ... Read more