Martinique
National Atlases
Martinique, an overseas department of France, developed its national atlas tradition within the framework of French departmental atlases. The sole atlas in this collection, *Atlas of French Overseas Departments, 2. Martinique* (1977), was produced by the CNRS Centre for Tropical Geography in collaboration with university and local partners. This work exemplifies a collaborative editorial model, integrating geographic, demographic, and economic data to portray the island's unique tropical environment and its socio-economic structures. As part of a broader series on French overseas departments, this atlas not only served as a scientific reference but also as a tool for regional planning and public awareness. Its publication marked a significant step in documenting Martinique's territory at a time when such comprehensive cartographic resources were rare. The atlas remains a valuable historical record, offering insights into the island's landscape and development in the late 20th century, and it continues to inform contemporary studies on Caribbean geography and French overseas territories.
Versions and Their Documents
This is the first volume of the national atlas tradition in our collection.
Contemporary and Later Comment
- Journal Article1977Compte-Rendu: Atlas des départements français d'outre-mer. 2. La Martinique
Gérard Brasseur
This review examines two works concerning the French Antilles, with a particular focus on Martinique. The first part offers a detailed assessment of the second volume of the "Atlas of French Overseas Departments: Martinique," produced by the Center for Tropical Geography Studies in Bordeaux and compiled by a team of thirty researchers. The reviewer notes a deficiency in historical cartography, as only one map from 1734 is included, despite its considerable historical value. The absence of a place-name index is also criticized, while the atlas is commended for its comprehensive data on population, land structures, and the sugar cane economy. The second part introduces an anonymous 1776 manuscript on Antillean fisheries, which describes fishing practices among both Caribs and Black populations, supplemented by editorial additions including a glossary and botanical identifications.
- Journal Article1978L'atlas de la Martinique
Bernard Rouleau
This article reviews the Atlas of Martinique, published by the CNRS Center for Tropical Geography Studies as part of the French Overseas Departments Atlas series. The atlas, produced in collaboration with several university geography departments and the BRGM, contains 37 color maps, each accompanied by explanatory texts, statistical tables, cross-sections, and supplementary maps, comprehensively presenting the island's population, agriculture, land use, and other geographic information. The reviewer highly praises the atlas's visual presentation, cartographic quality, and informational richness, noting its successful use of diverse cartographic methods to clearly depict Martinique's major geographic issues.
From the Physical Collection
Photographs are being prepared for this hall.