Scotland: Defending the Nation: Mapping the Military Landscape [Hardcover]

Scotland has had a uniquely important military history over the last five centuries. Conflict with England in the 16th century, Jacobite rebellions in the 18th century, 20th-century defences and the two world wars, as well as the Cold War, all resulted in significant cartographic activity.In this book two map experts explore the extraordinarily rich legacy of Scottish military mapping, including fortification plans, reconnaissance mapping, battle plans, plans of military roads and routeways, tactical maps, plans of mines, enemy maps showing targets, as well as plans showing the construction of defences. In addition to plans, elevations and views, they also discuss unrealised proposals and projected schemes. Most of the maps  some of them reproduced in book form for the first time  are visually striking and attractive, and all have been selected for the particular stories they tell about both attacking and defending the country.Scotland has had a uniquely important military history over the last five centuries. In this book two map experts explore the extraordinarily rich legacy of Scottish military mapping, including fortification plans, reconnaissance mapping, battle plans, plans of military roads and routeways, tactical maps, plans of mines, enemy maps showing targets. A beautiful and almost compulsively readable book. It tells the story of how Britains defences were represented, as often with demonstrative pride as with secrecy, from the time of the Rough Wooing in 1543 to the Cold War' This very well-crafted book embodies a paradox. The gruesome purpose of maps produced for the waging of war has resulted in a sumptuous-looking book.The maps make this book what it is. They are placed front and centre and the authors provide a wealth of detail as to what was included and why. The quality and range of images used mean it is a must-own for map-enthusiasts [and] those with a more casual interest in Scotlands military past'Full of unexpected historical insightslS1