Imperiia: a spatial history of the Russian EmpireMain MenuAboutProjectsDashboardsData CatalogMapStoriesGalleriesGamesWho said history was boring?Teach Our ContentCiting the ProjectKelly O'Neilldc20b45f1d74122ba0d654d19961d826c5a557f5The Imperiia Project // Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University
Wild Things
12020-04-02T06:37:48-04:00Kelly O'Neilldc20b45f1d74122ba0d654d19961d826c5a557f5936Reindeer and foxes and (polar) bears, oh my!image_header2020-05-06T21:52:54-04:00Kelly O'Neilldc20b45f1d74122ba0d654d19961d826c5a557f5
Would you like to see a map that is over 300 years old? Do you know anyone who is 300 years old? Have you ever been in a building that is 300 years old?
No? Well. This map is about 320 years old. Can you believe it? It was made in Siberia (click here to read what Encyclopedia Britannica says about Siberia) and shows one of the coldest, most remote parts of what was the Russian Empire. The only copy ever made is now in the collection of Houghton Library in Cambridge and you can flip through every page of the full atlas by clicking here.
The "Wild Things" map is also a lot of fun. Why? Well. All maps tell stories, but this particular map tells lots and lots of stories. In fact, it tells so many stories that we lost count!
(Oh, and don't worry if you can't read the words. To have fun with this map, all you need is your imagination and a mouse - touchscreens won't work, unfortunately.)
Now, go explore those crazy squiggly lines and colored squares, and don't forget to go on the Treasure Hunt: there are treasures there for hunters young and old!