Jerry Brotton is the presenter of the acclaimed BBC4 series 'Maps: Power, Plunder and Possession'. Here he tells the story of our world through maps. Throughout history, maps have been fundamental in shaping our view of the world, and our place in it. But far from being purely scientific objects, world maps are unavoidably ideological and subjective, intimately bound up with the systems of power and authority of particular times and places. Mapmakers do not simply represent the world, they construct it out of the ideas of their age. In this scintillating book, Jerry Brotton examines the significance of 12 maps - from the mystical representations of ancient history to the satellite-derived imagery of today. He vividly recreates the environments and circumstances in which each of the maps was made, showing how each conveys a highly individual view of the world - whether the Jerusalem-centred Christian perspective of the 14th century Hereford Mappa Mundi or the Peters projection of the 1970s which aimed to give due weight to 'the third world'. Although the way we map our surroundings is once more changing dramatically, Brotton argues that maps today are no more definitive or objective than they have ever been - but that they continue to make arguments and propositions about the world, and to recreate, shape and mediate our view of it. Readers of this book will never look at a map in quite the same way again.

A New York Times Bestseller “Maps allow the armchair traveler to roam the world, the diplomat to argue his points, the ruler to administer his country, the warrior to plan his campaigns and the propagandist to boost his cause… rich and beautiful.” – Wall Street Journal Throughout history, maps have been fundamental in shaping our view of the world, and our place in it. But far from being purely scientific objects, maps of the world are unavoidably ideological and subjective, intimately bound up with the systems of power and authority of particular times and places. Mapmakers do not simply represent the world, they construct it out of the ideas of their age. In this scintillating book, Jerry Brotton examines the significance of 12 maps - from the almost mystical representations of ancient history to the satellite-derived imagery of today. He vividly recreates the environments and circumstances in which each of the maps was made, showing how each conveys a highly individual view of the world. Brotton shows how each of his maps both influenced and reflected contemporary events and how, by considering it in all its nuances and omissions, we can better understand the world that produced it. Although the way we map our surroundings is more precise than ever before, Brotton argues that maps today are no more definitive or objective than they have ever been. Readers of this beautifully illustrated and masterfully argued book will never look at a map in quite the same way again. “A fascinating and panoramic new history of the cartographer’s art.” – The Guardian “The intellectual background to these images is conveyed with beguiling erudition…. There is nothing more subversive than a map.” – The Spectator “A mesmerizing and beautifully illustrated book.” —The Telegraph From the Trade Paperback edition.

History has been taught in a boring way for far too long. A subject as moving and powerful as humanity's past should be inviting, and when it is told well, it is. Susan Wise Bauer succeeds in telling the captivating story of history with her best-selling history series. Parents and young readers have fallen in love with her narrative history, The Story of the World, and its accompanying Activity Book. Now teachers and home educators can take advantage of a new and valuable learning tool: the Tests and Answer Key package. Included are 42 tests: one for each chapter of The Story of the World. Perfect for evaluating comprehension and retention. The narrative format of The Story of the World helps children remember the famous people, places, and events in history. These tests offer you an easy way to make sure that your child is absorbing the important events from world history. A combination of multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, and short writing samples allow you to evaluate your child's retention and comprehension of key events in The Story of the World. The Tests package contains an answer key for all tests. These easy-to-use tests and answer keys, successfully used by hundreds of parents and teachers, provide an objective method for measuring retention of key facts, figures, and events from history. A combination of sequencing, matching, short-answer, and essay-style questions gives students a chance to show what they've learned. Used with The Story of the World Text Book and Activity Book (sold separately), the Test and Answer Key gives educators a complete history curriculum for their elementary school students.

History has been taught in a boring way for far too long. A subject as moving and powerful as humanity's past should be inviting, and when it is told well, it is. Susan Wise Bauer succeeds in telling the captivating story of history with her best-selling history series. Parents and young readers have fallen in love with her narrative history, The Story of the World, and its accompanying Activity Book. Now teachers and home educators can take advantage of a new and valuable learning tool. These easy-to-use tests and answer keys, successfully used by hundreds of parents and teachers, provide an objective method for measuring retention of key facts, figures, and events from history. A combination of sequencing, matching, short-answer, and essay-style questions gives students a chance to show what they've learned. Used with the Activity Book and The Story of the World, the tests give educators a complete history curriculum for their elementary school students.

Provides annotated entries for historical fiction titles, biographies, and multimedia items

The Beatles' final album made London's Abbey Road recording studios forever famous. But from their 1931 opening, the studios had exerted a unique appeal for almost everyone who recorded there. This revised and updated edition includes previously unseen pictures.

Make history come alive! This book helps librarians and teachers as well as readers themselves find books they will enjoy—titles that will animate and explain the past, entertain, and expand their minds.