Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 1.6
'Map of the island of Utopia', Thomas More, 1516. This is perhaps the earliest recorded attempt
to write our future history from the viewpoint of developing an attractive future society. 'Utopia'
has come to represent any seemingly idyllic, fictional society - but the original text can be
interpreted in various ways, and can be read as political manifesto, moral allegory, or even an
elaborate joke.
'Those struck with a desire to visit friends in another city or to see the country may easily
get leave [. . .] wherever he goes, however, he is given no food until he completes a morning's
worth of work [. . .] if he fulfils his responsibility he may go where he pleases' (p. 73).
Ambrosius Holbein's
Map of the Island of Utopia
appeared in the 1518 edition of Utopia; a less
fully-developed version by an unknown artist was used in 1516.The genre has of course expanded
hugely, in print and film.
Source
: Private collection/The Bridgeman Art Library.
