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Talessman's Atlas
World History Maps

I started drawing maps right after I started reading about history.  My earliest maps were crude hand-drawings, but now I've got a good computer, a great image program (PhotoShop), and a nice background map. Translate this page!      I became frustrated while researching history because it's hard to find great maps.  The best maps are in books that cost more than I make in a week!  There are some good ones online but they only show small regions or certain periods.  As a "big picture" kind of guy, I wanted to know what the rest of the world looked like.  So I realized if I want free "World History Maps", I'd have to make them myself...

Just scroll down (or click here) for the most complete list of maps I've designed. They are used in dozens of Wikipedia history articles, and several history sites either link to them or use them directly (with permission!)      I update the maps as often as possible (when better or more accurate information becomes available).  My information references are listed in my Sources section.

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<--- View the Maps --->

40 Historical Maps

of the Eastern Hemisphere:

by Thomas A. Lessman

* Linked maps open in a new window. 
Unlinked maps are not complete or are
otherwise unavailable. Sources are listed
on my TAL_Sources page.

Prehistoric Maps
(Early Humans to 3000 BC)

No Prehistoric maps currently finished.

Primeval History Maps

(3000 BC to 601 BC)

3 Primeval maps currently finished.

* 3000 BC     * 2400 BC     * 2200 BC

* 2000 BC     * 1800 BC     * 1300 BC

* 1200 BC     * 1000 BC     * 900 BC

* 750 BC     * 650 BC     * 625 BC

*  Hittite Empire in 1300 BC

Ancient History Maps
(600 BC to 499 AD)

23 Ancient maps currently finished:

* 600 BC     * 550 BC     * 527 BC
* 500 BC     * 400 BC    * 350 BC
* 335 BC      * 323 BC     * 300 BC
* Alexander's Empire in 323 BC
* 250 BC     * 220 BC    * 200 BC
* Nan-Yue (Nam Viet) in 200 BC

* Ptolemaic Empire in 200 BC

* Rome, Seleucia, & Parthia in 200 BC
* 150 BC     * 100 BC     * 050 BC
* Indo-Greek Kingdoms in 100 BC
* 001 AD     * 050 AD     * 100 AD 
* Parthian Empire in 001 AD
* Kushan Empire in 100 AD
* 150 AD      * 200 AD     * 250 AD 
* 270 AD     * 300 AD     * 350 AD
* 400 AD     * 420 AD     * 450 AD
* The Hun Empire of Attila in 450 AD.
* 475 AD     * 476 AD     * 477 AD 
* 480 AD    * 486 AD    

* The Roman Empire in 475, 476, and 565 AD
* Odoacer's Kingdom of Italy in 480 AD
* Xiongnu Kingdom of Yueban in 480 AD

Medieval History Maps

(500 AD to 1500 AD)

13 Medieval maps currently finished.

* 500 AD     * 510 AD     * 525 AD
* Hephthalite Empires in 500 AD
* 535 AD      * 550 AD     * 565 AD    
* 600 AD     * 610 AD      * 700 AD    
* Kushano-Hephthalite Kingdoms in 600 AD
* Persian Sassanid Dynasty in 600 AD
* Sindh (Chacha Dynasty) in 700 AD
* Tibet in 700 and 800 AD

* 750 AD     * 800 AD     * 850 AD
* 900 AD     * 950 AD     * 1000 AD    
* Saffarid Dynasty in 900 AD
* 1025 AD      * 1050 AD     * 1100 AD    
* 1150 AD     * 1200 AD      * 1250 AD    
* 1300 AD     * 1350 AD     * 1400 AD

Modern History Maps

(1500 AD to Present)

1 Modern map currently finished.

* 1500 AD    

About the Maps: 

     I designed these maps using Adobe PhotoShop, and this background map that I pieced together from this topographical map.  I have a copy of each map in its original PSD format which allows me to make improvements and update them if necessary. The maps on this site are optimized for web viewing, each map is saved as a JPG image with 72-bit resolution.

Map License Agreement: 

Talessman's Atlas of World History, is owned by and copyright to Thomas Lessman. All content herein is licensed as CC-by-nc-nd-3.0 US. License. (Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-NoDerivatives-3.0).

    I believe in sharing my work, but not giving it away! These maps are not "free" for you to do whatever you feel like. Instead they should be considered "shareware" that you may use only if you follow certain rules: 

1. Foremost, you must have my permission to use the maps, which you can get by emailing me. 

2. You must leave the maps as-is (unless you have my permission to edit them). You can request permission by sending me an email at talessman@worldhistorymaps.info .

3. You must attribute the maps to Thomas Lessman, and note that they are available for free at www.WorldHistoryMaps.info.

TAL Map Sources:

     Disclaimer: These maps are only as accurate as the information that is available to me!  Keep in mind that sources are often incomplete or conflict with other sources.  I do the best I can with what I have!

* Each map takes a LOT of research! I've listed my sources on my <TAL_Sources> page. 

Get Involved!

     I appreciate any information that helps improve these maps.  If you see any possible errors, please  (Email Me) with sources to back up your claim.  Important: I cannot make changes unless they are based on solid information!

     All of my web maps are 72 bit resolution for easier web viewing.    If you are interested in helping make corrections, here is the blank map (without borders or names) that I use. Copy that map, use a program like PhotoShop, GIMP, or Paint Shop Pro to edit the map and show your corrections, then Email Me the map. I will make corrections as soon as possible.

Primary Sources

1. Regnal Chronologies by Bruce Gordon,

http://my.raex.com/~obsidian/regindex.html

2. Euratlas Maps of European History,

http://www.euratlas.com/time1.htm

3. Wikimedia maps of World History

Template:Maps_of_world_history

4. World History Maps by John Nelson

http://www.WorldHistoryMaps.com

5. Maps of South Asia, Columbia University

Maps of South and Southeast Asia

6. DK Atlas of World History, 2000 edition.

7. FSmitha Macrohistory and World Report

http://fsmitha.com/maps.html

8. Friesian School of Philosophical History, http://www.friesian.com/histindx.htm

9. Historical Map Resources at University of Texas.

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/index.html

10. Early British Kingdoms

http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com

11. History & Commercial Atlas of China

http://map.huhai.net

12. Various Wikipedia articles.

* See the TAL_Sources section for a more detailed list of sources used for each map!

     Eventually I plan to write a book called Talessman's Atlas of World History., which will include hundreds of maps showing world history and World History Maps that show the borders of civilizations and locations of tribes, from prehistoric times to the present, approximately every 50 to 100 years.    

     As you can imagine this is an enormous project!  It takes a LOT of research to find information for the borders - and sources are often difficult to find, incomplete, or conflict with other sources. I try to keep a detailed list of my source references on my TAL_Sources page. Completed maps are uploaded here to my site, and most are also re-uploaded to Wikipedia for use in various history articles. When I update a map I have to upload the corrected version to this site and Wikipedia, update the list of sources, etc.

     Please feel free to browse my site using the links on the left side of this page. My world history maps are located below, along with information about them. If you are interested in helping finish any of these maps (or if you have information to help make them more accurate), please Email Me.