Ancient perspectives : maps and their place in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece & Rome

摘要: "Ancient Perspectives" encompasses a vast arc of space and time - Western Asia to North Africa Europe from the third millennium BCE fifth century CE explore mapmaking worldviews in ancient civilizations Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome. In each society, maps served as critical economic, political, personal tools, but there was little consistency how why they were made. Much like today, antiquity meant very different things people. presents an ambitious, fresh overview cartography its uses. The seven chapters range broad-based analyses mapping Mesopotamia Egypt close focus on Ptolemy's ideas for drawing world map based theories his Greek predecessors at Alexandria. remarkable accuracy Mesopotamian city plans is revealed, creation by Romans support proud claim that their emperor's rule global reach. By probing instruments techniques both Roman surveyors, one chapter seeks uncover extraordinary planning roads, aqueducts, tunnels achieved. Even though none these devised means measure or distance with precision, still conceptualized surroundings, natural man-made, near far, felt urge record them inventive this absorbing volume reinterprets compares.