The Early Cartography of Namibia – Coastal Charts and Orientation Maps of the Interior, 1502–1902

Namibia boasts one of the richest cartographic heritages of any African country south of the equator — despite its forbidding coastline, arid interior, and complex history. In this presentation, Prof. Imre Josef Demhardt will explore four centuries of mapmaking through 16 remarkable charts and maps, each revealing a unique aspect of how Namibia was gradually charted and understood from 1502 to 1902.

About the speaker:
Imre Josef Demhardt is the Garrett Chair in the History of Cartography at the University of Texas at Arlington. His research spans the global history of mapping, with a particular interest in southern Africa. He has visited Namibia regularly since 1988 and is a Corresponding Member of the Namibia Scientific Society.

Join us for this fascinating journey through Namibia’s early maps and the stories they tell about exploration, knowledge, and geography.

The talk will be available via Zoom

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