History of Cities in Maps

A fascinating cartographic study of urban development, perfect for map and history lovers.

The city, a concept nearly as old as history itself, is a paradox of human innovation and intervention, order and conflict. From ancient civilisations 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 4,500 years, this book expertly curates more than 70 historical maps which tell the fascinating story of human civilisation: 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 BCBabylon, c. 600 BCRome, c. 210 ADBaghdad, 762 ADConstantinople, 1422Tenochtitlan, 1524Dublin, 1610Kyoto, 1626New Amsterdam, 1660Edinburgh, 1780Adelaide, 1838Lagos, 1885Los Angeles, 1908Brasilia, 1957Chongqing, 2016Dubai, 2020
About the author

A historian and Sunday Times bestselling author with The Northman’s Fury, who studied at Cambridge and Johns Hopkins University.

He has written widely on late antiquity, the early Middle Ages and world history, and his unique panoramic history of the nation was published by Collins: History of Britain in Maps.

He lives in London.