Marjo Nurminen : The Story of the Baltic Sea

A king who became a pirate. A pirate who became a legend. Cousins battling for control of the Baltic Sea. Merchant sailors, pilgrims, and fishermen of the archipelago. A gas pipeline that linked East and West, yet divided the world. The first mapmakers, who told the story of the northern sea and its coasts through their maps.

The Story of the Baltic Sea is an exciting journey through time and a fascinating guide to the world of the Baltic, from the Middle Ages to the present day, seen through maps. In the book, the Baltic Sea emerges as a route whose waters have brought together lone adventurers and entire fleets alike. The book vividly recounts centuries of maritime interaction—knowledge, skills, and goods—that have shaped the lives and worldviews of the people living along the Baltic shores.

The work offers a carefully curated selection of historically significant maps alongside contemporary maps. It insightfully reveals how maps and the stories connected to them help us understand the many-sided world of the Baltic Sea, both past and present. At the same time, it shows how maps have not only conveyed information but also shaped perceptions of the Baltic and the people living on its coasts, from the Viking Age to the present day.

Beyond geography, old maps tell above all the history of seafaring, trade, and war, while also reflecting the histories of power politics, communication, and propaganda. The thematic maps created for the book's final chapter illustrate the Baltic Sea of the 2020s through current issues. In them, the Baltic appears as a rich underwater museum, a major corridor for energy transport, and an immeasurably valuable natural environment in need of protection.