In this episode we are joined by Peter Barber, the former head of the British Library's map rooms, which hold more than 4.5 million maps!  Peter is one of the world's foremost experts on European cartography.  He has curated numerous exhibitions, and has written extensively on the history of maps. 

 Exploring a heart-shaped world map created in 1544 by Gemma Frisius, Jerry and Peter unveil the hidden messages from the map maker, who lived at a time of huge upheaval and war. They also revisit Peter's personal history with the fascinating world of maps.

 To view the map while listening to this episode, please visit www.oculi-mundi.com/podcast.

What's Your Map? is an Oculi Mundi Exploration. Oculi Mundi is the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique maps and atlases.

In this series, we speak to people who live, love and work with maps -  making, preserving, interpreting, and being inspired by them. In each episode, we ask our guests to unfold a map that is special to them and to tell us the story that lies behind it. 

Jerry Brotton is a British historian with a specialist interest in maps. He is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and is a regular on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 3. 

What’s Your Map? is a Whistledown Production and is produced by Emily Uchida Finch 

Instagram: @oculimundimaps

Website: https://oculi-mundi.com/ 

In this second episode of What’s Your Map? host and map historian Jerry Brotton is joined by Dwayne Fields, the first Black Briton to reach the magnetic North Pole. 

Through a map printed in the Times of London in 1909, they recount another journey by African American explorer Matthew Henson, who reputedly was the first person to reach the North Pole back in 1909. 

To see a high-definition image of the map as it’s discussed, go to: https://oculi-mundi.com/podcast 

Dwayne Fields has many impressive titles: Arctic explorer, BBC presenter and now the UK's Chief Scout. As an adventurer, maps are vital to Dwayne, and so is the story of Matthew Henson, who was able to withstand harsh racism and Arctic winds to make it to the top of the world.

What's Your Map? is an Oculi Mundi Exploration. Oculi Mundi is the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique maps and atlases.

In this series, we speak to people who live, love and work with maps -  making, preserving, interpreting, and being inspired by them. In each episode, we ask our guests to unfold a map that is special to them and to tell us the story that lies behind it. 

Jerry Brotton is a British historian with a specialist interest in maps. He is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and is a regular on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 3. 

What’s Your Map? is a Whistledown Production and is produced by Emily Uchida Finch 

Instagram: @oculimundimaps

Website: https://oculi-mundi.com/ 

Welcome to the first episode of What’s Your Map? where host Jerry Brotton is joined by historian William Dalrymple, who unfurls a beautiful Jain cosmological map to explore the meaning and history of the ancient Indian religion.

To see a high-definition image of the map as it’s discussed, please go to: https://oculi-mundi.com/podcast 

William untangles Jain beliefs through their cosmological map of the universe. He recounts his visit to a Jain temple where he bore witness to heartbreak and ritual death. 

What's Your Map? is an Oculi Mundi Exploration. Oculi Mundi is the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique maps and atlases.

In this series, we speak to people who live, love and work with maps -  making, preserving, interpreting, and being inspired by them. In each episode, we ask our guests to unfold a map that is special to them and to tell us the story that lies behind it. 

Jerry Brotton is a British historian with a specialist interest in maps. He is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London and is a regular on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 3. 

William Dalrymple’s new book The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World (Bloomsbury) is out now. 

What’s Your Map? is a Whistledown Production and is produced by Emily Uchida Finch 

Instagram: @oculimundimaps

Website: https://oculi-mundi.com/

We all want to make sense of this vast and messy world. From etchings on cave walls to sea charts, globes and atlases, humans have been making maps for thousands of years.

Join historian Jerry Brotton as he explores the fascinating world of maps. In each episode, we ask our guests to unfold a map that is special to them and tell us the story behind it.

Celebrated historian William Dalrymple will join Jerry for our first episode on September 25th to discuss a beautiful map from the ancient Indian religion of Jainism.

 

 What's Your Map? Is an Oculi Mundi exploration. To look at the maps as they are discussed, go to Oculi-Mundi.com 

Produced by Emily Uchida Finch at Whistledown Productions.