Mapping the World: Start Here

Credo is an academic alternative to Wikipedia and is perfect for background research or helping to formulate your topic. It includes topic pages with mind maps (example: Cartography) and specialized entries from several encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference sources  History of Cartography from Encyclopedia of World Trade: From Ancient Times to the Present.

The databases featured in this box are particularly useful for finding scholarly journal articles for this class. Browse our full selection of Databases A-Z.

Think about keywords related to topic you're interested in- maybe a specific geographical region, time period, or aspect (cultural, philosophical, demographic)- to start your search in the library's catalog, WorldCat@SU. Try different combinations, and be aware of spellings. 

When you find a relevant resource, click 'Description'. Try exploring the subject links to lead to more resources on the topic. Also browse the shelf nearby for related titles: either in person or online using 'Browse the Shelf' feature.

Ask your librarian for other advanced search tips/strategies! Note: for finding Primary Sources, try adding 'source' to your WorldCat search.

Try some of these subject headings in WorldCat:

Cartography | Historical Geography | Cartography [country] History | Maps | World Maps | Travel Maps | World Maps Early Works to 1800 | 

If you find a book, article, or other item that isn't in our collection, you can request it through Get It! and our library will borrow it from another library for you. Look for this button in WorldCat or databases to make a request via Get It!:   

If you need assistance finding resources for your research, you can Request a Research Appointment and a librarian will contact you to schedule an appointment, or email me directly at firestom@southwestern.edu.