Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
A ring of bright water
MANTUA, ITALY, EARLY 18TH CENTURY
We can often learn a great deal about the meaning and purpose of a map from its context
within the archives. Sometimes, however, we have little except the content of the map itself
upon which to base our conclusions. This map of Mantua is an example of the latter kind.
Our knowledge of its context is limited to the fact that it was kept by the War Office's lib-
rarians as part of a diverse set of manuscript plans of Italian towns and harbours, all thought
to date from the 18th century. What practical use these would have been to the British gov-
