ABSTRACT
With their lines and demarcation of geographical spaces, early modern maps do not, at first glance, look particularly conducive sources for the study of early modern emotions. However, maps are visual narratives that display relationships between people and places, and as such are imbued with emotion. Created with emotional purpose and filled with meaningful imagery to encourage particular affective states, maps were a means to communicate and display power and authority, particularly colonization and ownership; maps were intended to be viewed, interpreted, collected and exhibited in both public and private spaces. The emotional states that are associated with maps include wonder, awe, pleasure, pride as well as fear and envy. A history of emotions approach to cartography employs textual, visual and material readings to interpret authorial motivations, social relationships, points of narrative and colour, text and design in and through maps.
