Motivation and Accurateness of Mapping Premodern Alexandria: GIS Criticism on Gaston Jondet's Atlas

Abstract

M. Gaston Jondet edited “Atlas Historique de la Ville des ports d’ Alexandrie” in 1921 CE, including 55 cards mapping the topographic evolution of Alexandria from 1472 CE to 1920 CE.

Background of cartographer's control mapping Alexandria. Jondet’s Atlas reflects Alexandria's old maps for civil or military purposes. That derived from Alexandria’s strategic geopolitical location as a joint of world trade lines, whether as a terminal harbor for local trade with the Mediterranean basin or a transit station connects the Euro-Asian trading. Moreover, spying and military use during the premodern colonial conflict was the other perspective of mapping that strategic city.