Agas Map of London
Title
Agas Map of London
Description
The Agas Map of London or Civitas Londinum, a woodcut printed from 8 blocks, presents a city view of London and its surrounding environs designed to be displayed on a wall. This 1633 work is a possible reproduction of an older copperplate map (of which only two plates survive), offering an explanation to the Agas Map’s lack of a clearly defined border.
The River Thames runs the entire width of the map, dividing the map and city into two sections; it is filled with numerous boats, London Bridge divides the river, containing ocean going ships on the right and numerous small barges and rowboats to the left. The mapmaker affirms London’s importance as a trading hub, the entrepot between the English hinterlands and the world, through the inclusion of such a diversity of vessels. Men lead encumbered pack animals into the river near the Styllyyarde and Tower of London. Large swans ply the river in the bottom left corner. The river’s current and waves are represented by numerous lines and hummocks, highlighting its tidal nature.
The map depicts the layout of the city streets separating blocks filled with small stylized homes. The mapmaker names the larger buildings like churches, guildhalls, and palaces, reproducing them as faithfully as possible. The map fans out upon leaving the city center, showing the surrounding roads, towns, and fields. The major roads and towns are named; the busiest roads and crossroads contain people. London’s position as a thriving and expansive city is emphasized by downplaying the city walls and highlighting the fertile outlands. Numerous people doing a multitude of activities (including dancing, milking cows, laundry, building, playing games, strolling, or hunting) populate the fields.
The mapmaker chooses to present the Royal Arms in the top left corner and the City of London’s arms in the top right corner, hoisted by two cherubs. The Corporation of the City of London may have played a role in the creation of the original map, attested to by the elaborate frame coupled with the map’s focus on London and de-emphasis of Westminster. The map highlights the wealth, power, and size of the City of London. (Benton Franklin '19)
The River Thames runs the entire width of the map, dividing the map and city into two sections; it is filled with numerous boats, London Bridge divides the river, containing ocean going ships on the right and numerous small barges and rowboats to the left. The mapmaker affirms London’s importance as a trading hub, the entrepot between the English hinterlands and the world, through the inclusion of such a diversity of vessels. Men lead encumbered pack animals into the river near the Styllyyarde and Tower of London. Large swans ply the river in the bottom left corner. The river’s current and waves are represented by numerous lines and hummocks, highlighting its tidal nature.
The map depicts the layout of the city streets separating blocks filled with small stylized homes. The mapmaker names the larger buildings like churches, guildhalls, and palaces, reproducing them as faithfully as possible. The map fans out upon leaving the city center, showing the surrounding roads, towns, and fields. The major roads and towns are named; the busiest roads and crossroads contain people. London’s position as a thriving and expansive city is emphasized by downplaying the city walls and highlighting the fertile outlands. Numerous people doing a multitude of activities (including dancing, milking cows, laundry, building, playing games, strolling, or hunting) populate the fields.
The mapmaker chooses to present the Royal Arms in the top left corner and the City of London’s arms in the top right corner, hoisted by two cherubs. The Corporation of the City of London may have played a role in the creation of the original map, attested to by the elaborate frame coupled with the map’s focus on London and de-emphasis of Westminster. The map highlights the wealth, power, and size of the City of London. (Benton Franklin '19)
Creator
Unknown
Source
London, National Archives, MPEE 1/25.
Format
Single map
Publisher
Agas Map of London. London: Kodak Limited, 1976.
Date
1633
Medium
wood cut
Contributor
Special Collections, Carleton College, Northfield, MN
franklinb
Relation
Language
English
Type
City view
Spatial Coverage
London
References
Botero, Giovanni. On the Causes of the Greatness and Magnificence of Cities. Translated by Geoffrey Symcox. Toronto: University of Toronto, 2012.
Worms, Laurence. "The London Map Trade to 1640." In History of Cartography, vol. 3, part 1, Cartography in the European Renaissance, ed. David Woodward, 1693-1721. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007.
Worms, Laurence. "The London Map Trade to 1640." In History of Cartography, vol. 3, part 1, Cartography in the European Renaissance, ed. David Woodward, 1693-1721. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007.
Rights
Rights for maps held by individual publishers and institutions. Thumbnails displayed constitute fair use.
Collection
Citation
Unknown, “Agas Map of London,” Mapping the World, accessed May 1, 2025, https://hist231.hist.sites.carleton.edu/items/show/22.