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 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