Throughout history, maps have been fundamental in shaping our view of the world, and our place in it. But far from being purely scientific objects, world maps are unavoidably ideological and subjective, intimately bound up with the systems of power and authority of particular times and places.  In this scintillating talk, Jerry Brotton examines the significance of 12 maps – from the mystical representations of ancient history to the satellite-derived imagery of today, showing how they continue to make arguments and propositions about the world.