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Maps are often used for persuasive purposes. Yet little is known about whether or not different persuasive map producers use similar cartographic techniques or about how such techniques have evolved through time. This article explores the genealogy of persuasive map design by analyzing 256 such maps published since 1800. Quantitative content analysis is used to break down each map among 190 contextual, data, design, and layout variables. Cross-tabulations and descriptive statistics are used to test whether and how the characteristics of persuasive maps have changed over time and differ by type of producer. The results illustrate that although some persuasive techniques have changed over time and by producer, most techniques are recurring and used by all types of producers. The results imply that different techniques of persuasive cartography are largely timeless, regardless of producer or medium. It is also argued that content analysis may prove a useful method for other research in map genealogy. RésuméLes cartes sont souvent utilisées dans un but de persuasion. Toutefois, on ne sait pas vraiment si les divers producteurs de cartes persuasives utilisent tous les mêmes techniques cartographiques. On ignore aussi comment ces techniques ont évolué. Dans l'article, on explore l'évolution de ces techniques en analysant 256 cartes persuasives publiées depuis 1800. À l'aide d'une analyse du contenu quantitatif, on évalue chaque carte en tenant compte de 190 variables relatives au contexte, aux données, à la conception et à la disposition. Des tabulations recoupées et des statistiques descriptives sont utilisées pour déterminer si les caractéristiques des cartes persuasives ont changé avec le temps, et pour analyser cette évolution le cas échéant. De plus, on évalue les différences qu'on trouve entre les divers types de cartographes. Les résultats montrent que même si certaines techniques persuasives ont changé avec le temps ou d'un cartographe à l'autre, la plupart des techniques sont récurrentes et sont utilisées par tous les types de cartographes. Ces résultats supposent que certaines techniques de cartographie persuasive sont grandement intemporelles, peu importe le producteur ou le soutient technique. L'analyse du contenu pourrait aussi s'avérer une méthode utile pour d'autres recherches en généalogie cartographique.

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Persuasive maps are ubiquitous in society, yet cartographers have largely neglected to conduct serious, holistic research on them. Persuasive maps represent a form of visual communication that differs markedly from scientific geovisualization. First, many of these maps' communicative goals are anathema to those of scientific representation. Second, many persuasive maps ignore and defy established cartographic conventions. This article argues two things. First, the cartographic discipline can gain insight about how maps communicate information from the longitudinal and holistic analysis of persuasive maps. By comparing the differences and similarities of persuasive maps to scientific geovisualizations, researchers can begin to understand how persuasive maps communicate differently than scientific ones. Second, breaking persuasive maps down into composite parts may make it possible to identify persuasive map norms (i.e., methods of design that are embraced by producers of persuasive maps). The results of a content analysis of 256 persuasive maps are discussed. The article concludes that it may be possible to take the most statistically significant results from this study to begin identifying different rhetorical styles of persuasive maps.