Minard's Famous "Napoleon's March" Chart – What It Shows, What It Doesn't

This chart is a staple in every visualization course and many visualization talks. But what does it show, and what does it leave out? There's a lot more to Napoleon's Russian Campaign and to Charles Minard's work than this one chart. References and more info below 👇👇👇

00:00 – Introduction
00:32 – What the Chart Shows
02:54 – What It Doesn't Show
05:16 – Does It Tell A Story?
06:46 – Hapax Legomenon
09:24 – Minard's Legacy

Paintings used:
Albrecht Adam, Napoleon in Front of Burning Smolensk
Vasily Vereshchagin, On the Big Road (Napoleon's Retreat)
Peter von Hess, Crossing the Berezina River
January Suchodolski, The Grande Armée Crossing the Berezina

Check out Sandra Rendgen's Book, The Minard System: https://sandrarendgen.wordpress.com/2...

Thoughts on reducing information to tell a story, using Minard's map as an example: https://eagereyes.org/journalism/stor...
A book with more on the map and accounts from the war, Menno-Jan Kraak, Mapping Time: https://eagereyes.org/blog/2014/revie...

Please like and subscribe!

Follow me on Twitter   / eagereyes  
Check out my website, https://eagereyes.org/