The Atlas of Human Imagination
The Atlas of Human Imagination presents knowledge in a new way - visually, chronologically and across disciplines - revealing how ideas build upon ideas, often spanning very different cultures and fields. Viewed through this lens, Professor David Jarvis shows that geography is an extraordinary story of human curiosity and discovery, shaped by centuries of pioneering thinkers.
From Eratosthenes measuring the size of the Earth, to Mercator’s revolutionary cartography, to Newton’s explanation of gravity and tides, and Nansen’s exploration of the polar ice caps, each figure introduced bold new ways of understanding our planet.
Scientists, geographers, explorers, mathematicians and artists uncovered the hidden patterns of clouds, currents, rivers, mountains, and climates - insights that continue to shape how we understand and protect the world today. Their shared legacy demonstrates that curiosity, careful observation and creative thinking are often the foundations of discovery.
This Geography document explores selected historical breakthroughs featured in the Atlas of Human Imagination and explains how these concepts remain central to modern physical geography. Topics covered include: geodesy, cartography, geomagnetism, weather and climate, plate tectonics, hydrology, oceanography, the atmosphere, space science, ecology and conservation.
Designed as a free educational resource, the Atlas supports teaching, learning and cross-disciplinary exploration at GCSE, A Level, and International Baccalaureate (IB) levels.
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Professor David Jarvis