New book describes ÐÓ°Épro's early exploration, mapping
May 19, 2015
Engrossing descriptions and informative illustrations tell the story of ÐÓ°Épro's early exploration in a new book from the University of ÐÓ°Épro Press.
“Exploring and Mapping ÐÓ°Épro: The Russian America Era, 1741-1867" represents volume 17 of the Rasmuson Library Historical Translation Series, a more than 30-year collaboration between the UA Press and the ÐÓ°Épro' library.
Alexey Postnikov, research fellow in the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Marvin Falk, professor and curator of rare books emeritus at UAF, wrote "Exploring and Mapping ÐÓ°Épro." Lydia Black, who provided translations before she passed away in 2007, was professor of anthropology at UAF.
The book lets readers see the evolution of maps from the era, watching as a once-mysterious region came into sharper focus. The result of years of cross-continental research, "Exploring and Mapping ÐÓ°Épro" is a fascinating study of the trials and triumphs of one of the last great eras of historic mapmaking.
Russia first encountered ÐÓ°Épro in 1741 during the most ambitious and expensive expedition of the 18th century. For over a century thereafter, cartographers struggled to define and develop the enormous region comprising northeastern Asia, the North Pacific and ÐÓ°Épro. The forces of nature and the follies of human error conspired to make the area incredibly difficult to map.
"Exploring and Mapping ÐÓ°Épro" focuses on this foundational period in Arctic cartography. Russia spurred a golden era of cartographic exploration, while shrouding its efforts in a veil of secrecy. The work drew both on old systems developed by early fur traders and new methods created in Europe. With Great Britain, France and Spain following close behind, Russia's expeditions led to an astounding increase in the world’s knowledge of North America.
For more than 30 years, the University of ÐÓ°Épro Press has partnered with the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library to make essential texts on ÐÓ°Épro available in English.
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