Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER FOUR
THEATRES OF WAR: MILITARY MAPS
Conflict is a recurrent theme throughout history, and over the centuries it has been an import-
ant influence on the development of cartography. Maps relating to defence and war fare are to
be found throughout this topic. We have also mentioned the long tradition of British military
mapmaking and its fine quality in previous chapters, notably Town and country and Towards a
national survey . In this chapter, we explore how maps can shed light on battles, campaigns and
other aspects of war. Unsurprisingly, most of our selected maps are of military origin. They
tend to be drawn clearly and precisely, reflecting the discipline of service life; this is frequently
in striking contrast to the violent, sometimes chaotic, events that they portray.
Our focus here is upon land-based war fare and the army, and later also upon conflict in the
air. Chapter 5 is devoted to maps (or rather charts) of the sea. Nevertheless, many operations
have relied upon the combined efforts of soldiers and sailors, and so aspects of naval war fare
have crept into this chapter. Most of the maps that we have chosen represent wars in which
British troops were actively involved, and the majority were made by British service person-
nel. The curious tale of why our plan of the 1663 siege of Neuhäusel is an exception to both of
these is outlined A siege and a spy .
The changing pattern of political alliances within Europe is a theme that unites much of
this chapter. The French, so of ten enemies of the English throughout history, feature heavily.
The old rivalry between Great Britain and France - both in Europe and later in colonial North
America - reached its zenith during the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th century, but then
subsided. In the 20th century it was replaced by the alliance known as the Entente Cordiale.
By contrast, Germany - a region which had traditionally supplied British royalty with suitable
Protestant marriage partners - would become the United Kingdom's chief enemy during the
two world wars. Military action outside Europe included armed conflict with people who res-
isted British colonisation of their lands; on Ambush at the ford we look at a battle from the
New Zealand Wars.
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