Great City Maps: A Historical Journey Through Maps, Plans, and Paintings

Great City Maps presents more than 70 historical maps and plans of cities around the world. This digital PDF edition is available as an instant download after purchase.

Created by DK with the Smithsonian Institution, the book follows cities from ancient settlements to modern megacities. It explores how maps reflect urban development, politics, religion, culture, trade, and technology.

Readers can compare changing city forms, cartographic methods, and the work of artists and mapmakers across centuries.

Book Overview

Great City Maps is an illustrated history and geography reference book by DK, with the Smithsonian Institution credited as a contributor. It examines historic city maps, plans, and paintings from locations including Rome, Jerusalem, Beijing, Constantinople, London, Paris, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and Washington.

The book is organized by broad historical and geographic themes. Its sections include The Earliest City Plans, Ancient Cities, Medieval Trading Centers, Imperial Capitals, Colonial Cities, and Megacities. Short descriptions and visual examinations explain significant features within the maps.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• More than 70 illustrated historical maps and city plans from around the world.
• Examples of urban development from ancient cities to modern megacities.
• Visual tours of map details such as Old London Bridge in London in 1572 and the orchards of Brooklyn in New York in 1767.
• Maps showing cities including Rome, Jerusalem, Mexico City, Constantinople, Paris, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, and New York.
• The influence of politics, religion, culture, trade, railroads, steamships, and trans-global flight on urban change.
• Profiles and attributions for cartographers, artists, and mapmakers associated with the featured works.

Why This Book Matters

City maps record how people shape and understand the places where they live, work, trade, and govern. By placing maps from different periods alongside one another, this reference work shows how urban form and cartographic practice evolve together.

The collection is relevant to readers of history, geography, cartography, urban planning, and visual culture. It also offers a documented view of cities as centers of political, economic, religious, and cultural power.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This product is a digital download with no physical shipping. Access is available after purchase.

The PDF works with appropriate Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and compatible reading apps. Device features may vary by application.

FAQ

When can I access the book?
Access is available after purchase, with an instant download of the digital PDF.

Will I receive a physical copy?
No. This listing provides a digital download, and no physical copy is shipped.

Which devices support the file?
The PDF can be opened with appropriate Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and reading apps.

Download this digital edition for convenient reference to historic city maps, plans, and paintings.

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