The original edition of this work appeared under the title Historical Atlas of East Central Europe in 1994. A reprint with corrections was issued in 1995. Both the original and this edition are published as part of the multi‐volume History of East Central Europe (Sugar and Treadgold, 1974‐). The first edition was received with wide critical acclaim. The Library Association Record, for example, praised it as “outstanding” noting particularly that “in terms of detail accuracy and clarity it is unmatched” (Library Association Record, 1994). This new edition, issued in paperback, is intended to take the atlas into the new millenium and reflect the changes that have taken place in Eastern and Central Europe since the early 1990s.
Central Europe, as defined by this atlas, is the “middle third” of the continent, or more specifically Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Balkans including Greece. Also partially covered because of historical entanglement with this area are eastern Germany and Bavaria, northeastern Italy, Lithuania, Belarus, western Ukraine up to the Dnieper river, Moldova and western Anatolia in Turkey. The first maps start at around ad400, but the focus is generally very much on the last two centuries. Just over 100 maps are presented in 61 topical sections arranged in broad chronological order. Thematic sections containing maps on economic changes, ecclesiastical structures, education and culture, demography and ethnicity and military affairs are interspersed at appropriate points. Most maps, including all those showing boundaries at a particular date, are full page, but smaller half page and inset maps are used for specific topics. In addition to maps, each section includes one or more pages of text offering historical background and commentary. These are rich in detail and help to untangle the intricacies of the numerous boundary and other changes the maps portray.
The standard of cartography and the selection of topics are probably the two most notable features of this atlas. Maps are beautifully drawn, make intelligent use of colour and are generally clear and crisp in appearance. The clutter that mars so many historical atlases is mostly avoided. Only very occasionally do the lines and hatching depicting boundary and other changes blur into an indecipherable muddle. In addition to the general maps illustrating boundaries at key points in history, for example, 1480, 1648, 1815 and on the eve of the First World War there are numerous maps on specific subjects. These include the Catholic Counter Reformation, canal and railway development, Jews and Armenians, population movements during the Second World War and recent industrial development. Particularly valuable are several maps on ethnolinguistic distribution. Accompanied by charts indicating the ethnic composition of each country, these help to unravel the causes of the conflicts, boiling and simmering, that continue to bedevil large parts of the region. Two other features worthy of special note are the index and bibliography. The former, which uses variant typefaces to distinguish between different types of entry includes battles, persons, organizations, ideologies, countries, regions, cities, etc., greatly enhances the reference value of the entire work. The latter, covering seven pages, lists general and specific atlases relating to the region as well as relevant general works.
With 21 new and 41 revised maps and 11 new sections the position of this work as one of the pre‐eminent atlases for the study of European history is reinforced. The new maps, particularly the 11 country maps such as “Yugoslavia since 1991” and “Albania and Macedonia in the 20th century”, bring coverage right up to date. Libraries with the first edition should not hesitate to replace. Libraries that somehow missed the first edition should still purchase. At £24.95, albeit in paperback, this is an extremely good value buy. “Masterful” (Slavic Review), “magisterial” (Independent) and “magnificent” (The Times) were some of the “M” words used to describe the first edition. To these your reviewer, not normally prone to the overuse of superlatives, would add “monumental”.
