November 2017 brings another chapter in the long legacy of Zimbabwe. Suddenly the military took control of the nation but said President Robert Mugabe, in power since 1980, was safe.
From the myths of Prester-John to the realization of The Great Zimbabwe civilization, the land has endured a colonial claim, a false name, and a corrupted independent reign.
To understand and visualize this history, The Afriterra Cartographic Library presents 12 rare maps that trace the pathways here over 500 years. Please examine and share this exhibit as we expand further discussions on the history of Africa for Geography Awareness Week.
The Gambia: A Cartographic Space
The re-telling of Roots on the History Channel this summer reminds us to read more of Alex Haley’s Pulitzer Prize winning book from 1976, and beckons us to visualize West Africa’s place in history. Our current online exhibit allows multiple pan and zoom views involving 30 of the rarest maps from 1500-1900 depicting the original Gambia River in the early Mandinka land over a period of 400 years.