Black, Jeremy Maps of War. Mapping Conflict through the Centuries

There are few documented records of conflict before the Renaissance, but from the 17th century onwards military commanders and strategists began to document the wars in which they were involved, and later to use mapping to plot the course of a conflict . This splendid new volume uses contemporary maps to cover the history of mapping land wars and shows how maps reveal the history of war.

Content: The beginnings of military mapping before 1600, including the impact of printing and the introduction of gunpowder; The 17th century: The emphasis is on maps illustrating war rather than depicting landscapes etc. for the purpose of planning military operations, special interest is given in the chapter to the illustration of fortifications; The 18th century: The growing need for maps on a global scale reflects the expansion of European power and overseas conflicts between European powers. This chapter deals in particular with the American Revolution; The 19th century: Major developments included contours and the production of military surveys. Topics include the Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War; The 20th Century: The new dimensions of World War 1 and 2 call for new types of maps, including trench warfare and aerial reconnaissance maps. Much of the chapter focuses on the period from 1945 to the present, including special sections on the Vietnam War and the Gulf Wars.