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| The Times Atlas of the World | |
|---|---|
| Name | The Times Atlas of the World |
| Author | The Times |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Subject | World atlas |
| Publisher | Times Newspapers Ltd |
| Pub date | 1895 (first edition) |
| Pages | varies |
The Times Atlas of the World is a comprehensive world atlas produced by Times Newspapers that documents global geography through thematic and topographic maps. First issued in the late 19th century, the atlas has been revised repeatedly to reflect changes in United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, South America, Oceania, and polar regions, incorporating updates from international organizations, national mapping agencies, and scientific bodies. It serves as a reference for cartographers, scholars, libraries and institutions including the British Library, Royal Geographical Society, United Nations, European Union and various national archives.
The atlas originated amid Victorian-era interest in exploration and colonial administration, following precedents set by works such as Stieler Handatlas and cartographic enterprises of the Ordnance Survey and Royal Geographical Society. Early editions reflected geopolitical arrangements like the Scramble for Africa, the Berlin Conference (1884–85), and imperial holdings of the British Empire and French Third Republic. Throughout the 20th century updates recorded occurrences such as the outcomes of the Treaty of Versailles, border changes after the Second World War, the emergence of United Nations member states, decolonization in Algeria, India, Kenya and the dissolution of federations like the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. Cold War-era cartographic choices intersected with events including the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Korean War, and the creation of European Coal and Steel Community. Later editions integrated post-Cold War shifts such as the expansion of NATO, the enlargement of the European Union, and the independence of states like South Sudan.
Editions have ranged from compact pocket volumes to large-scale reference tomes; notable releases include versions comparable to the Oxford Atlas, the National Geographic Atlas, and specialized regional atlases akin to publications by the United States Geological Survey and Institut Géographique National. Formats have encompassed printed folios, paperback atlases, wall maps used in institutions like Harvard University and University of Oxford, and digital products compatible with platforms from Microsoft and GIS suites such as ArcGIS and QGIS. Special editions have highlighted topics connected to the International Hydrographic Organization, World Meteorological Organization, and UNESCO, and anniversary issues have coincided with milestones for publishers such as Times Newspapers and parent groups like News UK.
Cartographic production integrates datasets from national mapping agencies including the Ordnance Survey, US Geological Survey, Geoscience Australia, Statens kartverk, and Institut Géographique National, as well as international compilations from the United Nations Statistical Division and satellite data from programs like Landsat, Copernicus Programme, and SPOT (satellite). Bathymetric and oceanographic content aligns with standards from the International Hydrographic Organization and research aboard vessels associated with institutes such as the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Projection choices and cartographic conventions reference historical practices exemplified by Mercator, Lambert and Robinson projections, and typographic design has been influenced by printing houses linked to Times Newspapers and typefaces used by publications like The Times newspaper.
Coverage includes political, physical, topographic and thematic mapping of continents and regions such as Antarctica, the Arctic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Himalayas, the Andes, the Sahara Desert, the Amazon River, and island groups like the Galápagos Islands, the Canary Islands, Hawaii, and the Falkland Islands. The atlas features thematic maps addressing topics connected to organizations and events such as OPEC, World Health Organization, International Monetary Fund, migration patterns after conflicts like the Syrian civil war, and environmental concerns noted by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports. Urban insets present cities such as London, Paris, New York City, Tokyo, Beijing, Mumbai, Lagos, and Sydney with transport networks referencing rail corridors like the Trans-Siberian Railway and waterways like the Suez Canal and Panama Canal.
Scholars, librarians and cartographers at institutions including the British Library, Library of Congress, Cambridge University, and Yale University have cited the atlas for historical geography and reference. It has influenced educational curricula in schools tied to authorities such as the Department for Education (England), and been compared with atlases from National Geographic Society, Collins Maps, and Encyclopædia Britannica. Critics and reviewers in outlets like The Guardian, The Times (newspaper), and specialist journals associated with the Royal Geographical Society have debated its editorial decisions regarding nomenclature for territories such as Taiwan, Western Sahara, and Crimea. Collectors and bibliographers reference editions in catalogs maintained by museums including the Victoria and Albert Museum and archives like the National Archives (UK).
Production involves editorial teams coordinating with cartographers, geographers and data specialists from organizations including the Ordnance Survey, US Geological Survey, EuroGeographics, and academic departments at universities such as University College London and the University of Edinburgh. Layout, engraving and printing have employed techniques from traditional lithography to modern digital prepress systems used by major printers serving media groups like News UK and international publishers. Legal and naming conventions consult bodies such as the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names and national foreign offices including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK) and counterparts in the United States Department of State and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (France), while distribution networks reach libraries, bookstores, universities and government ministries around the world.
Category:Atlases Category:Cartography Category:Publications established in 1895