Animals and Maps

Animals and Maps by Wilma George is an insightful and groundbreaking exploration of how animals have been depicted in maps throughout history. This unique work reveals how early cartographers used animals not just as decorative elements, but as significant markers of geography, biodiversity, and human-animal relationships. By meticulously analyzing historical maps, George uncovers the hidden data about animal distribution and offers a scientific perspective on how early mapmakers interpreted and conveyed knowledge of the natural world. This book highlights the role of animals in the visual language of cartography, from medieval maps adorned with mythical creatures to Renaissance world maps illustrating exotic wildlife. Animals and Maps presents a compelling fusion of cartographic history and zoological analysis, providing readers with a deeper understanding of how animals have shaped, and been shaped by, human perceptions of the world. A must-read for those interested in cartography, natural history, and the intersections of science and art, this book offers a fresh perspective on the world of maps.

This title was originally published in 1969.

Many titles in the Voices Revived program are also newly available as books, offered at a discounted price to support wider access to scholarly work.