Maps and Mapmaking

Cartography is not a static, impartial discipline, and this collection traces the evolution of maps of Arabia and its adjacent regions over the past five centuries. The maps collected here reflect a variety of interests, perspectives, and priorities.

• 16th-century Venetian map based on Ptolemaic conceptions of the region
• 17th-century plans designed for European seafarers traveling through the region on their way to India
• 18th- and 19th-century Ottoman atlases
• Works created by 18th- and 19th-century scientists and geographers
• 20th-century hydrographic charts of the Gulf
• Maps delineating sources of oil and shifting boundaries in the Arabian deserts

Selected Highlights

Viewing

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