Science And Power:French Cartography Between 1661 And 1789

France was under an absolute monarchy between 1661 and 1789.The rulers pursued national interests and focused on the relationship between population,territory and wealth.Since the end of seventeenth century,France has come to the fore and become the leader in cartography in Europe.What this article wants to analyze is the interaction between French cartography and political power during this period.The paper first sorts out the development and characteristics of several types of maps.One category is the national map,which updates the understanding of French territory and establishes the practice of using triangular measurements for field mapping;the other is maps applied to specialized fields.The development of hydrological maps,mountain maps,transportation planning maps,and border maps is closely linked to the needs of the government,and the cadastral plans which were limited by the complex political and economic conditions of the ancient regime develop very slowly.Then,the different roles of two kinds of official institutions in promoting the development of cartography are studied:the research institutions represented by the Royal Academy of Sciences of Paris show that theoretical researchers have initially accepted the practicality of science at the level of consciousness,while the two engineering schools built for road and bridge construction and military demand reflect the emphasis on practical ability in the training of engineers.Finally,the work discusses the relationship between science and power.Although scientific cartography seeks for truth and neutrality,it is always associated with political power.Scientific maps can meet the needs of the French rulers in the governance concept of understanding the country and growing wealth,so they are supported and constantly developed.The cartography depends on the patron system and the mapping gradually becoming an administrative behavior is the different manifestations used by science for power.