The Cadastral Map in the Service of the State: A History of Property Mapping - Book by Roger J. P. Kain & Elizabeth Baigent

In The Cadastral Map in the Service of the State, Roger J. P. Kain and Elizabeth Baigent explore the role of cadastral mapping (land surveys) in the administration of state power. They focus on how governments, particularly in Europe, used these maps for purposes of taxation, land ownership regulation, and resource management. The authors discuss the historical development of cadastral surveys, highlighting their importance in modern governance, state-building, and the consolidation of power. By examining case studies, they demonstrate how mapping served not just as a tool for land management, but as an instrument of social control.