2020/08/07 by W. R. Mead · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · #Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
paper · doi:10.1080/00291951.2020.1811756
openalex publication_date 2020/08/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06
Originally written in 1985, the article provided the first general overview of the history of cartography in the Nordic countries for the period 1650–1800. The objective of the article is to show how the mapping of Northern Europe developed during that period. It is based on available literature and extensive studies in Scandinavian map archives. Mapping activities included property mapping for taxation and land reorganization, early town plans, scientific mapping by scholarly societies, military surveys especially in border regions, charting of economic resources on land, hydrographical surveys of the coasts, and recording the Icelandic environment. The article shows how cartography in the period 1650–1800 had a strong utilitarian motivation.