Mapping the World 1990
What is Mapping the World?
Mapping the World is a television series that premiered on December 12, 1990. Known in French as Le Dessous des cartes, the program focuses on explaining geopolitical contexts by utilizing maps as visual support.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1990
- Status
- Returning Series
- Episodes
- 1,198
- Runtime
- 12 minutes
- First aired
- Dec 12, 1990
- Last aired
- May 29, 2026
- Original language
- FR
- Origin
- FR
- Networks
- ARTE, La Sept
- Genres
- Documentary
- Updated
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 1,198 episodes and an average 12-minute runtime.
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Mapping the World is a television series that premiered on December 12, 1990. Known in French as Le Dessous des cartes, the program focuses on explaining geopolitical contexts by utilizing maps as visual support. The series was created by political scientist Jean-Christophe Victor, who served as the host of the show until his death in 2016. The format of the program is designed to break down the complex world of geopolitics into ten-minute, bite-sized segments. According to promotional material, the intent of this structure is to provide viewers with information that allows them to speak knowledgeably about global affairs. The show has continued to air since its inception in 1990. While the series title relates to the study of geography and political boundaries, it remains distinct from digital mapping services or platforms used for driving directions and traffic updates. The program remains a long-running resource for viewers interested in understanding international relations through a cartographic lens.
Should you watch it?
“Geopolitics made digestible for the everyday viewer.”
- Breaks down complex topics into manageable segments
- Useful for staying informed on global issues
- May oversimplify nuanced political matters
You want to understand world affairs without heavy academic detail.
Suitable for general audiences seeking basic geopolitical literacy.
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 2 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Japan 1990 Dec 12, 1990
- E2 Israel 1 Dec 19, 1990
Season 2 · 30 episodes
- E1 Baltic Countries 1 Jan 9, 1991
- E2 Balkans Jan 16, 1991
- E3 Aral Sea Jan 23, 1991
- E4 Davos Jan 30, 1991
- E5 Baltic Countries 2 Feb 6, 1991
- E6 Petrol Feb 13, 1991
- E7 Gulf Feb 20, 1991
- E8 Irak Feb 27, 1991
- E9 Kurds 1 Mar 9, 1991
- E10 Kurds 2 Mar 23, 1991
- E11 Czechoslovakia 1 Apr 6, 1991
- E12 Czechoslovakia 2 Apr 13, 1991
- E13 Israel 2 Apr 20, 1991
- E14 European Confederation 1 Jun 1, 1991
- E15 European Confederation 2 Jun 8, 1991
- E16 Yugoslavia Jun 15, 1991
- E17 Mediterranean Sep 28, 1991
- E18 Ireland Sep 5, 1991
- E19 Germany 91 Sep 12, 1991
- E20 Cambodia 92 Sep 19, 1991
- E21 Horn of Africa Sep 26, 1991
- E22 Basques Nov 2, 1991
- E23 Christopher Colombus Nov 9, 1991
- E24 Baltic Nov 16, 1991
- E25 Jesuits Nov 23, 1991
- E26 North Asia Nov 30, 1991
- E27 Hong Kong 97 Dec 7, 1991
- E28 Taiwan 92 Dec 14, 1991
- E29 Sahara Dec 21, 1991
- E30 Malacca Dec 28, 1991
Season 3 · 28 episodes
- E1 South C.E.I. Jan 11, 1992
- E2 Albertville Jan 18, 1992
- E3 Canada Jan 25, 1992
- E4 megacities Feb 1, 1992
- E5 Bosnia Feb 8, 1992
- E6 Mesopotamia Feb 15, 1992
- E7 Zheng He Feb 22, 1992
- E8 Pakistan 92 Mar 7, 1992
- E9 Greece Mar 14, 1992
- E10 Nigeria Mar 21, 1992
- E11 Amazon Apr 4, 1992
- E12 West Bank 92 Apr 11, 1992
- E13 Tumen Apr 18, 1992
- E14 Ukraine Sep 19, 1992
- E15 C.E.E. Sep 26, 1992
- E16 Swiss Oct 3, 1992
- E17 Gibraltar Oct 10, 1992
- E18 Pakistan Oct 17, 1992
- E19 C.E.E. Oct 24, 1992
- E20 Slovakia Oct 31, 1992
- E21 Former Yugoslavia Nov 7, 1992
- E22 Afghanistan Nov 14, 1992
- E23 Moldova (The) Nov 21, 1992
- E24 Spratly Nov 28, 1992
- E25 The Russian army Dec 5, 1992
- E26 Australia 92 Dec 12, 1992
- E27 AIDS Dec 19, 1992
- E28 Belgium Dec 26, 1992
Season 4 · 43 episodes
- E1 European transport Sep 17, 1993
- E2 European Security 1 Sep 24, 1993
- E3 European Security 2 Oct 1, 1993
- E4 Gypsies Oct 8, 1993
- E5 Tuareg Oct 15, 1993
- E6 Sudan Oct 22, 1993
- E7 Israel History Oct 29, 1993
- E8 Israel - Water Feb 20, 1993
- E9 Black Sea Feb 27, 1993
- E10 Hungary Mar 13, 1993
- E11 Planning Mar 20, 1993
- E12 Telecom Mar 27, 1993
- E13 Japan Apr 3, 1993
- E14 Denmark Apr 10, 1993
- E15 Cambodia 93 Apr 17, 1993
- E16 Kosovo 1 Apr 24, 1993
- E17 Kosovo 2 May 1, 1993
- E18 Lebanon History May 8, 1993
- E19 Lebanon Politics May 15, 1993
- E20 Geographical Europe May 22, 1993
- E21 Mediterranean Sea (Curtain Of Sea) May 29, 1993
- E22 Gray Zones Jun 3, 1993
- E23 Russia 1: "The Great Stages Of The Formation Of The Russian Territory" Jun 5, 1993
- E24 Russia 2 Jun 12, 1993
- E25 Russia 3: The Tatars Jun 19, 1993
- E26 European curtains Jun 26, 1993
- E27 Bougainville Jul 24, 1993
- E28 Causes of Famine in Africa Jul 31, 1993
- E29 Alena Aug 14, 1993
- E30 Europe And The Sea Aug 21, 1993
- E31 Czechoslovakia Oct 9, 1993
- E32 The Rendez-Vous 93/94 Oct 16, 1993
- E33 Turkey: Turkish Foreign Policy Maps Oct 23, 1993
- E34 Kurds: Kurds in Turkey Oct 30, 1993
- E35 Ukraine: Ukraine Between Europe And Russia Nov 6, 1993
- E36 In the face of crises Nov 13, 1993
- E37 Colombia Nov 20, 1993
- E38 Turkey Nov 23, 1993
- E39 Aborigenes 1: The Discovery Of Australia Nov 27, 1993
- E40 Aborigenes 2: The Conquest Of Australia Dec 4, 1993
- E41 The Germans Of The Volga: The Germans Of The Former Urs Dec 11, 1993
- E42 The Mentent Cards Dec 18, 1993
- E43 Should we change the G7? Dec 25, 1993
Season 5 · 42 episodes
- E1 The Mekong Jan 15, 1994
- E2 Bulgaria
- E3 Horn of Africa 1
- E4 Horn of Africa 2
- E5 Somalia 1: The Somali heritage
- E6 Somalia 2: The Burst Of Somalia
- E7 Straits of Straits
- E8 Territories in transition
- E9 Brasil
- E10 Balkans: Was the explosion Predictable?
- E11 Balkans: Apartheid in Europe
- E12 Was the empire Russian or Soviet?
- E13 Russia Year III: What Foreign Policy?
- E14 The Story Does not Repeat (Zhirinovsky)
- E15 The Discovery of the North American Continent Apr 9, 1994
- E16 Formation of the United States Apr 16, 1994
- E17 American Foreign Policy Apr 23, 1994
- E18 The Extraordinary Adventures of Admiral Eunuque Zheng He Apr 30, 1994
- E19 China Shape Change May 7, 1994
- E20 Towards a Chinese Confederation May 14, 1994
- E21 Nigeria 94 May 21, 1994
- E22 The Crisis Of Macedonia View By Greece. May 28, 1994
- E23 The Crisis Of Macedonia Viewed By Macedonia (1/2) Jun 4, 1994
- E24 The Crisis Of Macedonia Viewed By Macedonia (2/2) Jun 11, 1994
- E25 The Geography Of The World Time Jun 18, 1994
- E26 Paris Through His Plans Jun 25, 1994
- E27 NATO for All? Jul 30, 1994
- E28 Develop Our Territory Sep 17, 1994
- E29 Landscaping Our Territory: France Beside Europe Sep 24, 1994
- E30 Planning Our Territory: The Draft Law Oct 1, 1994
- E31 The Consequences Of Quebec Independence Oct 8, 1994
- E32 The impact of the accession of Scandinavian countries to the European Union Oct 15, 1994
- E33 The Morcement Of Afghanistan Oct 22, 1994
- E34 Cuba: Does the US embargo still have a meaning? Oct 29, 1994
- E35 Impact of Austria's membership on its identity Nov 5, 1994
- E36 The Sudanese Conflict And Its Consequences Nov 12, 1994
- E37 Oil (1) Nov 19, 1994
- E38 Oil (2) Nov 26, 1994
- E39 Oil (3) Iraq Dec 3, 1994
- E40 Botswana Dec 10, 1994
- E41 Laos Dec 17, 1994
- E42 1993-1994: The Geopolitical Year Dec 24, 1994
Frequently asked questions
How long is each episode?
Each episode runs for approximately ten minutes.
Is this series good for beginners?
Yes, it's designed to make geopolitics accessible to general viewers.
Does it cover current events?
It addresses geopolitical topics in a way that remains relevant over time.
Is there a lot of technical jargon?
The series aims to minimize complex terminology for broader understanding.
Can I use this for educational purposes?
Yes, it serves as a helpful introduction to global political concepts.