Tunisia

The national atlas tradition of Tunisia is a story of collaboration and gradual self-determination. The earliest work in this collection, the *Atlas of Algeria and Tunisia* (1923), was a joint project initiated by the Government General of Algeria, with financial support from the Tunisian government. It reflects the colonial-era practice of regional cartography, where Tunisia was often treated as part of a larger French North African entity. The atlas was accompanied by a phytogeographic map by Maire, dividing the region into three natural zones, and was reviewed alongside French publications on vegetation, highlighting the scientific and administrative priorities of the time. Six decades later, the *Atlas national de Tunisie* (1986) marked a decisive shift: a standalone national atlas, produced independently, signaling Tunisia’s post-independence commitment to mapping its own territory, resources, and identity. Together, these two atlases trace a path from externally driven, regional mapping to a sovereign cartographic voice. Their legacy lies in establishing a baseline for Tunisian geographic knowledge, influencing later thematic mapping and serving as a reference for both academic research and national planning.