Smithsonian: History of the World Map by Map

Maps don't just show us where to go, but also where we've been. A stunning overview of all human history, side by side with 140 custom maps.

Learn how something like the printing press can define a time, or how the Allies in Europe could defeat the Nazis. There is so much to read about in this remarkable history book, and just as much to look at.


Maps are more than the topography of the Earth or the borders of countries. Maps can represent the movement of people and ideas, and they provide a unique way to explain historical themes and explore sweeping periods of time.

This stunning visual reference book starts with the evolution and migration of our oldest ancestors out of Africa. You can then look up maps about the Greece and Persian War, the Mongol Conquests, Medieval Europe's trade routes, and the rise of the Ottomans. There are maps about the colonization of North America, the scientific revolution, Napoleon's advances, and Britain's control of India. There's more in later centuries, like the Age of Imperialism, the American Civil War, industrialized Europe, and the transformation of Japan.

This history book reaching across millennia gives you a broad view of the pivotal events in our past. With 140 maps, complimented with pictures, info boxes, and timelines, there's so much to enjoy and learn about. You will gain a strong understanding of some of the forces and movements across continents that have shaped our world.

A Map Guided Tour of World History

Inside this beautiful cover are concise and fascinating historical information, 140 custom maps, and many ways to engage in history that will interest many readers, from students wanting additional resources for school to history buffs that love a good book and cartography.

Go on a guided tour through time:

• Prehistory 7 MYA-3000 BCE
• The Ancient World 3000 BCE-500 CE
• Middle Ages 500-1450 CE
• The Early Modern World 1450-1700
• Revolution and Industry 1700-1850
• Progress and Empire 1850-1914
• The Modern World 1914-Present