top of page

Timeline Map

Map Information

The Timeline Map plots out all of the publications within the library to show the rise of the book trade within the eighteenth century. It showcases data concerning authors, the number of printed publications, cities, countries, and publishers. Each publication is represented by a different color to show the extent of their popularity throughout the century.

Map Points:

  • Publication.

  • Place of Publication.

  • Number of Editions.

Graph Points:

  • Publication.

  • Author of Publication.

  • Number of Editions.

The Rise of the Book Trade

The eighteenth century saw the rise of the book trade. Prior to 1700, books were luxuries that were used only by political and religious leaders and were primarily religious in nature. They were kept within the private libraries of a few rather than shared by the many. After 1700, the book trade began to be established and exploded in the middle of the century with a variety of publications that included books on political theory, economics, and novels. All one has to do to see this trend is to look at the data collected.

Design and Names

The names of places used within the maps represent the majority of the eighteenth century. While the city itself is specific, the greater context tends to become more “ambiguous” depending on how much change is represented during the era or how disjointed the places are within the era. Additionally, historical lines or grids have been avoided due to the constantly changing boundaries of the era. The main purpose of the countries/states/continents is to give greater context for the specific city data. The map offers more detailed country information within the highlight cards.

User Guide

Users can click on any of the data within the Graph Menu to highlight them within the map and get more details by clicking on individual marks. The user can also click on any of the points on the map to get more information about the publications. By clicking on the city name of the highlight card, one can pull up all of the books published in that city alone.

bottom of page