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