The Fagel Project is an online resource of 10,000 significant maps dating from before the 1800s. The website is based on one of the greatest map projects of all time, Google maps.

The project is part of an ambitious new digital humanities undertaking by Trinity College Dublin (TCD).

The idea is that the user enters the website, clicks on a map and will be able to examine, zoom, and scroll through some incredibly illustrated battle plans, urban street scapes, and architectural drawings.

Project leader at TCD Dr Micheál Ó Siochrú, associate professor in modern history, hopes the project will help those not just in Ireland but the world, to chart the progress of the history of where they come from and how it has changed.

“The creation of the Fagel map website gives these glorious treasures, a new lease of life and will provide an invaluable resource for all who who wish to understand the development of European identities and one of Europes relationships with the wider world.”

The collection contains maps from all over the world, with a particular emphasis on Europe, regions where the Dutch had trading or Colonial interests. It includes more that 900 detailed urban street plans, several hundred battle plans showing all major conflicts in Europe from 1650 to 1800, as well as sea and celestial atlases.

The initial phase of the Fagel Project has been supported by a philanthropic donation arranged by the Trinity Foundation. The project is also being supported by Google Maps. Similar projects undertaken by the research team include the award-winning Down Survey of Ireland map project.

Love Irish History? "Like" IrishCentral's History Facebook page now and you'll never miss an update again!