Six Representative European Atlases

Summary

This article reviews six representative European atlases: Stieler's Grand Atlas (International Edition), Sweden's Allt för Allas Världsatlas, the Atlas de France, the Atlas of the Czechoslovak Republic, the Atlas of Lower Saxony, and the Economic-Transport Geographic Atlas of Pomerania. It observes that modern atlases have evolved from conventional locational maps to specialized thematic maps, driven by intensified nationalism, social-economic planning, and rising educational standards. Stieler's atlas adheres to the locational tradition, renowned for scholarship and technical excellence; the Swedish atlas focuses on Scandinavia with aesthetic appeal; the French atlas covers diverse topics including agriculture, transport, and political opinion distribution; the Czechoslovak atlas is hailed as a masterpiece covering geography, demography, economy, and more; the two German regional atlases serve as data sources for agricultural regeneration and resettlement planning. The review also compares cartographic techniques, such as dot methods and areal tints, across these works.