The first international history of railroads and railroad infrastructure told through stunningly reproduced maps.
Since their origins in eighteenth-century England, railroads have
spread across the globe, changing everything in their path, from where
and how people grew and made things to where and how they lived and
moved. Railroads rewrote not only world geography but also the history
of maps and mapping. Today, the needs of train companies and their users
continue to shape the maps we consume and consult.
Featuring full-color maps primarily from the British Library's distinguished collection--many of them never before published--A History of the Railroad in 100 Maps
is the first international history of railroads and railroad
infrastructure told through maps. Jeremy Black includes examples from
six continents, spanning a variety of uses from railroad planning and
operations to guides for passengers, shippers, and tourists.
Arranged chronologically, the maps are accompanied by explanatory
text that sheds light on the political, military, and urban development
histories associated with the spread of railroads. A final chapter
considers railroad maps from games, books, and other cultural artifacts.
For anyone interested in the history of railroads or maps, A History of the Railroad in 100 Maps will offer new and unexpected insights into their intertwined global history.
