Nationalatlanten: Entwicklung, Konzeption, Gestaltung und Funktion

Summary

This dissertation presents a systematic comparative study of the development, conception, design, and function of national atlases worldwide, from the first Atlas de Finlande in 1899 to recent publications, set against the backdrop of the planned German national atlas. The study traces the complete historical trajectory of national atlases, dividing it into distinct developmental phases: early beginnings (1899-1918), interwar development (1919-1945), postwar reconstruction (1946-1960), the boom of the 1960s, maturation in the 1970s, and new approaches since 1980. For each phase, the author analyzes historical-political contexts, conceptual designs, cartographic techniques, and typological characteristics, with particular attention to the influence of International Geographical Union (IGU) recommendations on national atlas production. The research reveals a significant evolution in the concept and function of national atlases: from initial tools for national representation and scientific documentation, they developed into comprehensive multi-purpose reference works serving national planning, educational purposes, and international comparison. Technologically, the field progressed from traditional manual cartography through computer-assisted methods to contemporary electronic media, profoundly shaping atlas formats. Based on systematic analysis, the author proposes a recommendation framework for future national atlases, which is then compared with the concrete plans for the ATLAS BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND following German reunification. The study also highlights the special position of the Finnish national atlases, whose successive editions serve as a model of continuity and innovation. Finally, the author offers perspectives on future developments, emphasizing digitalization and networked media as key trends for national atlases in the electronic age.