Atlas of Timor-Leste

La chronique des lectures: Atlas de Timor Leste; Timor lorosa'e, pays au carrefour de l'asie et du pacifique

Jean-Michel Lebigre · 2023

This is a review of two atlases on East Timor. The reviewer notes that 2002, the year of East Timor's independence, also saw the nearly simultaneous publication of two important atlases: one produced by the Gertil group at the Technical University of Lisbon in Portuguese, and the other by geographer Frédéric Durand in French. The review details the structure and features of both works. The Portuguese atlas covers nine chapters including history, culture, nature, administration, demography, economy, and development indicators, offering rich information despite some technical flaws. The French atlas focuses on the period from the end of Portuguese occupation to the eve of independence, with detailed analysis of Indonesian military operations and resistance, though its organization is somewhat fragmented. The reviewer concludes that the two atlases are complementary rather than competitive, and represent the best current references for understanding this young Southeast Asian state.