Taking Spengler’s Kartenbild literally, he has a great vision for an atlas. As you say, some of what he wanted has been created since then, but only in fragments that are mostly purpose-built for specific research topics. With the software we have today, Spengler’s maps could be built (ex: the thousands of structures being rediscovered in the Yucatán now). The geographic databases I have looked through are still largely inadequate for accomplishing this as they are, though. Would be a huge effort.
Yes, the zooming in and out, or ability to jump between scales, is essential for a good multi-purpose map. The viewer needs to be able to toggle features on and off, locations in the map need to switch from points in the small scale to boundaries in the large scale; the city of Rome ‘dot’ becomes the city limits of Rome ‘polygon’ as you zoom in. But the kartenbild also needs to integrate non-map elements equally well. When you zoom in on Syracuse, archaeological survey cross-sections need to appear, with annotations and georeferences that precisely orient that survey data on the map AND display the cross-section in profile view. You should be able to toggle the sea level between the present and the last glacial maximum in its vicinity. This is a full blown mapping application. Achieving it on paper in Spengler’s time would have been a lifelong effort.
Whenever I read a historical work I feel like I understand much better when I can use a map to track events. There is something to this
Taking Spengler’s Kartenbild literally, he has a great vision for an atlas. As you say, some of what he wanted has been created since then, but only in fragments that are mostly purpose-built for specific research topics. With the software we have today, Spengler’s maps could be built (ex: the thousands of structures being rediscovered in the Yucatán now). The geographic databases I have looked through are still largely inadequate for accomplishing this as they are, though. Would be a huge effort.
Yes, something like 3d models of maps too where you can zoom in is what I envision. Hell, simulate the whole civilization with timelines
To an extent, you can find this now on YouTube where people plot the course and development of Cultures on big maps of the world.
Yes, the zooming in and out, or ability to jump between scales, is essential for a good multi-purpose map. The viewer needs to be able to toggle features on and off, locations in the map need to switch from points in the small scale to boundaries in the large scale; the city of Rome ‘dot’ becomes the city limits of Rome ‘polygon’ as you zoom in. But the kartenbild also needs to integrate non-map elements equally well. When you zoom in on Syracuse, archaeological survey cross-sections need to appear, with annotations and georeferences that precisely orient that survey data on the map AND display the cross-section in profile view. You should be able to toggle the sea level between the present and the last glacial maximum in its vicinity. This is a full blown mapping application. Achieving it on paper in Spengler’s time would have been a lifelong effort.
Immersive VR Kartenbild. This is possible. We must assemble a team
This brought me here
https://www.reddit.com/r/grimezs/s/7DyHwTOmyD
Excellent Work.