Early geography schoolbooks such as this one provided children of the time (who had no TV, radio or movies, and few newspapers) with a “window to the world.” Geography books also gave them an introduction to the states and territories of the newly established American Republic (Page 132 shows the description of Massachusetts in 1798). Special attention was often paid to “latest discoveries.” Note on the frontispiece “A New Map of the World” which still has many blank areas, especially near the north and south poles, which had not yet been explored. Early geography books also often contained histories. This one has a “Chronological Table of Remarkable Events”, from the Creation to the present time.
Morse, Jedidiah. Geography Made Easy. 1798. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/l99-108/. Accessed on October 16, 2024.
Please note: Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.