Thematic atlases

Summary

This paper systematically reviews the development of thematic atlases worldwide between 1925 and 1974, focusing on regional atlases, frontier-area atlases, climatic atlases, agricultural atlases, statistical atlases, and other specialized types, examining their publication trends, content characteristics, and functional evolution. The study finds that approximately 250–270 regional atlases were published during this period, with the United States and the Soviet Union accounting for 51%. Atlas content shifted from predominantly physical geography in early publications to a dominance of socio-economic geography (65–75%) in later ones. By purpose, planning-oriented atlases constituted 46%, educational atlases 27%, and general atlases 27%. Between 1881 and 1973, 23 countries issued 31 national climatic atlases, while 18 countries completed 24 editions of agricultural atlases since 1922. Statistical atlases emerged from planning demands, with the US, France, and Germany pioneering computer-assisted cartographic data services. The paper concludes that the evolution of thematic atlases reflects their transformation from academic tools into instruments supporting regional planning and administrative decision-making, with content and format continuously adapting to societal needs and technological advances.