Discover Top Posts Tagged with #old maps

Map of the United States as an Eagle (1833)

1919 postcard of a map of Ukraine. X

#old postcards #ukrainian history #old maps #1910s #vintage ukraine #postcards #eastern europe #early 20th century #european history #ukraine

In light of the recent popularity of my 1940 bank subway map, here is another slightly older c1938 bank subway map, this time courtesy of the New York Savings Bank with a lovely illustrated cover. The inside contains some detail about the length and ridership of the three systems and on how to determine the location of an address based on which avenue it is on. Notable is the still under construction Sixth Avenue Line between 59th Street and West 4th Street.

Part of a map of Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico - circa 1860.

#vintage illustration #vintage #vintage maps #maps #information graphics #science #cartography #geography #1860s #map making #mississippi river #ephemera #louisiana #old maps #gulf of mexico #lake pontchartrain #new orleans

Roman London vs London today

#Roman London #Old London #River Thames #English history #Underground stations #Roman walls #city gates #historic sites #old maps #Roman Empire #Britannia #Londinium #The City

Around 500 AD, just 24 years after the fall in 476, Europe did not suddenly become empty or chaotic overnight. Instead, it was in a transitional phase where Roman structures were fading while new kingdoms were taking shape.

In the former western territories, power had shifted to Germanic rulers. Italy was controlled by Theodoric the Great, who ruled the Ostrogothic Kingdom and deliberately preserved many Roman systems like administration, law, and infrastructure. Gaul, which is modern France, was dominated by the Frankish Kingdom under Clovis I, who had recently converted to Christianity, strengthening ties with the Roman Church. In Spain, the Visigothic Kingdom held power, while North Africa was ruled by the Vandal Kingdom.

Life for ordinary people still looked surprisingly Roman in many ways. Cities like Rome had shrunk in population, but roads, aqueducts, and buildings still stood, even if they were no longer maintained at the same level. Latin was still widely spoken, evolving into early Romance languages.

Roman law and taxation systems lingered, especially under rulers who wanted stability.

At the same time, long distance trade had declined compared to the height of the Empire, and local economies became more important. Wealth and security were increasingly tied to land and local rulers rather than a distant imperial government. The old Roman elite still existed but often had to cooperate with new Germanic rulers.

The Christian Church had become one of the most stable and influential institutions across Europe. Bishops and clergy often filled the gaps left by Roman administration, helping govern cities and maintain social order.

Meanwhile, the eastern half of the empire, the Byzantine Empire, was still strong and wealthy, centered on Constantinople. From their perspective, the west had not truly "ended" but had simply fallen under the control of breakaway rulers.