Maps

This collection of 37 maps tells the story of the American Civil War as well as any historical account. See how and where the war began and why, and where the major battles were fought. Discover how the North achieved victory and the many ways the war changed America forever.

One side effect of the Russian-Ukraine conflict is how it underscored European dependence on Russian natural gas and oil. This article, published days before the Russian attacks, outlines and illustrated how much gas and oil flows from Russia to Europe and the potential for either side to use sanctions to get what they want.

Nearly 10% of Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss, measured as the inability to hear sounds lower than 25 decibels. The incidence of hearing loss increases with age and is typically higher among men. Recent analysis produced a puzzling observation researchers can't quite explain: There's a larger incidence of hearing loss among rural populations than in urban centers. Explore the data with this map and explainer.

A portmanteau of “Gerry” and “salamander,” gerrymandering occurs when politicians redraw voting districts to benefit their political party. The term “gerrymander” comes from a cartoon of a Massachusetts electoral district. The illustrator thought the shape of the district resembled a salamander; his friend added a nod to Massachusetts governor, Elbridge Gerry, who approved rearranging district lines for political advantage. However, gerrymandering existed long before its name. This multimedia page unpacks the history of gerrymandering in the United States.

During the late 19th and early 20th century the Sanborn Map Company created hundreds of detailed maps of towns and cities across America. Originally meant to provide fire insurance companies documents to assess rates—something Sanborn held an effective monopoly on for decades—the maps now provide an invaluable look at the layout and organization of early US communities, many of which no longer exist. This rich deep dive looks at the history of Sanborn maps and how to read them.

In the second half of the 19th century, researchers studying the behavior of the millions of emancipated Americans after the Civil War used "information graphics" to cut through the noise of racially charged debate. In this collection from Stanford, you can see century-old, stunningly hand-drawn data visualizations showing racial demographics, the effects of emancipation on cotton prices, and more.

This timeline and map show how intense bombing was during the Vietnam War. There were nearly 3 million air missions over the country and its neighbors during the conflict, though not all were offensive flights. Each airstrike and bombing, some of which fall relatively far outside Vietnam's borders, are marked in red.

This interactive map from the National Archives in the UK details the global impact of World War I. Countries and territories from Aden to New Zealand were impacted by the Great War, which started in 1914 and lasted until 1918. By selecting various locations on the map, viewers can access articles and evidence on how the war's influence traveled far beyond the front lines.

The Civil War is commonly described as a war between northern and southern US states, but where was the war actually fought? Watch this interactive map and timeline to see who fought who and when. Click on specific battles to learn more about each fight.

Ancient civilizations were found across the globe, though modern media may lead some to believe that ancient societies were limited to Egypt and Rome. This interactive map and timeline show viewers the location of ancient civilizations, starting from about 6,500 BCE. Map users can click on the names of societies and archaeological to access articles about the cultures and findings. One such entry details the Altamira, a prehistoric cave dating back to the Paleolithic Period that holds a wealth of archaeological evidence, including cave paintings and objects made of flint, bone, and horn.