Including Historic Maps in School Atlases: Potential and Limitations

Abstract

Ever since printing allowed the mass distribution of documents, we have accumulated an abundance of historic maps. These maps
allow for the thorough analysis of spatial processes, taking the changes of historical context into consideration. However, these resources are rarely included in school atlases, thus these mainly show the contemporary state of our environment. This study aims  to explore the differences and similarities between the atlas design of Hungary, where history and geography are taught separately; and France, where these subjects are taught as one synthetizing subject. The primary focus is on the inclusion (or rather omission) of historic maps in these publications. Nonetheless, some other interesting approaches in atlas structure and design could be explored throughout the document analysis process.