How have maps changed since John Georges time?
Over the last century, aerial reconnaissance, satellite imagery and a plethora of new ground surveying devices have generated ever more accurate source information for mapmakers. From the 1960s, the ability to integrate this information has been dramatically assisted by computers. At the same time, printing techniques have changed beyond all recognition – the intricate copper plates of the Bartholomew Archive seem a world away from today’s instant digital output. Yet technological change is only part of the story. We must also consider how society has changed since John George’s time. This is because maps are not simply mirrors of the real world, but are the result of selection, omission and distortion. If we look beyond any map, then it is possible to reveal information about the values, customs, and ideology of their maker. What makes maps so interesting is that they do not just represent a place at a point in time, but more importantly, they illustrate wider social values. Viewed in
