Many of these maps, like those of the Spanish and Portuguese imperialists of the 16th century, did more to illustrate dominance and ambition than to improve cartographical practice.

ECONOMIST: There is no such thing as an objective map

Mr Briedis, however, begins by noting that when French geographers recently plotted the mid-point between Europe's cartographical extremes, they found the continent's true centre was a derelict farmhouse just outside the city.

ECONOMIST: Vilnius

He ends his book with a blast of cartographical analysis, and suggests that weather maps have created the template for other representations of volatile geographic phenomena such as the incidence of crime and disease.

ECONOMIST: Weather maps