atlases

An atlas is a bound collection of maps, sometimes with accompanying text, that presents geographic information about the Earth or other subjects. Traditional atlases are books containing pages of maps arranged by region or theme, and they may include index, captions, elevation diagrams, and explanatory notes. The term has historical roots in the idea of a volume that bears the world, and it became widely used in the 16th century.

The development of atlases began in the early modern period when cartographers organized maps into cohesive volumes. Abraham Ortelius’s Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, published in 1570, is commonly regarded as the first modern atlas. The work helped standardize map presentation and indexing, shaping how subsequent atlases were produced. The term atlas itself is linked to the Titan in Greek myth who holds up the sky, a metaphor for a compendium that bears many maps.

Contents and structure typically include maps, a legend, scale, and a locator or index to help readers find places. Atlases may also provide descriptive text, notes on projection and data sources, and sections organized by geography, theme, or period. Projections and coordinate systems are employed to display the curved surface of the Earth on flat pages or screens, affecting accuracy and distortions.

In the modern era, atlases have expanded beyond printed volumes to digital forms, including online and interactive atlases. Digital versions integrate satellite imagery, geographic information system (GIS) data layers, and searchable databases, enabling customization, spatial analysis, and dynamic updates. Contemporary atlases may cover general geography, thematic topics, or specialized domains such as geology, climate, or navigation.