History of Cities in Maps

The city, a concept nearly as old as history itself, is a paradox of human innovation and intervention, order and conflict. From ancient civilizations to modern-day metropolises, maps have played a crucial role in urban progress. This book explores the development of cities through more than 70 captivating maps.


Each map in this beautifully designed volume gives a unique visual representation of and historical context to the city it surveys. Spanning more than 9,000 years, this book expertly curates more than 70 historical maps which tell the fascinating story of human civilization: from cities founded on sacred places, ideas and power, to early examples of town planning and later innovations such as skyscrapers and urban transport.


Featuring maps of renowned capital cities as well as lesser-known urban areas, including:




Mohenjo-Daro, c. 2500 BC
Babylon, c. 600 BC
Rome, c. 210 AD
Baghdad, 762 AD
Constantinople, 1422
Tenochtitlan, 1524
Dublin, 1610
Kyoto, 1626
New Amsterdam, 1660
Edinburgh, 1780
Adelaide, 1838
Lagos, 1885
Los Angeles, 1908
Brasilia, 1957
Chongqing, 2016
Dubai, 2020


An ideal book for map and history lovers. For more in this series try History of World Trade in Maps (9780008409296) and History of War in Maps (9780008506490).