Earth Shapers

by César Zetina Peñaloza
published on 22 April 2026

"Earth Shapers: How We Mapped and Mastered the World, from the Panama Canal to the Baltic Way" by Maxim Samson is a unique journey that takes us on an exciting exploration of some of the most interesting and controversial paths in human history. This is a well-researched work that is sure to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

When discussing an academic book on mapping, one might expect a text laden with lists of geological and geographical features of places that are barely depicted beyond soils and sediments. However, this book is a delightful surprise. It stands out from other texts, inviting the reader from the very beginning to lose themselves within its pages.

Uniquely, Maxim Samson confronts different passages or roads built by humans and their varied and rich histories to offer us a first-class journey through the most interesting, influential, and controversial paths in history. Earth Shapers stems from taking a question to its ultimate conclusion: Do we create paths or simply travel those already laid out by nature? It is a genuine question about whether human beings adapt to the world or, on the contrary, mold it to suit our needs. From this seemingly simple question, the author takes the bold step of leading us through profoundly immersive social, natural, and historical contexts in various regions throughout the world. He subtly challenges the reader to reconsider the notion of “roads” as something purely functional or utilitarian. As we explore his narrative, these "roads" are shown not as neutral or inert creations. Rather, they are deeply embedded in systems of power, belief, cultural identity, and local life, thus becoming one with the landscape. Roads also play more active roles, such as facilitating imperial expansion, enabling economic exploitation, or serving as pilgrimage routes imbued with spiritual meaning. These roads reveal the intentions and consequences of human interaction with the environment.

Samson's remarkable journey takes us from the imposing Qhapaq Ñan, the “great road” of the Inca Empire in South America, through the railway system of Mozambique, and to the paradisiacal Baekdu-daegan Pass. The book presents a series of essays linked to the specific context of each region, and it does not limit itself to exploring them from a purely geographical perspective. Instead, the author offers an investigation focused on the particular function of each road according to the idiosyncrasies of the local population. Thus, we discover how a great South American empire developed an efficient system of communication and transportation, or how, in other cases, certain industries benefit from major routes for the extraction of natural resources in less fortunate areas.

It makes sense that this book is structured this way. Maxim Samson's academic work focuses on the intersection of geography, religion, and education, especially in sacred landscapes, religious education, and urban geography. He holds a PhD in Geography and is currently an adjunct professor at DePaul University. He also wrote Invisible Lines: Boundaries and Belts that Define the World (2023), where he explores the natural boundaries of our planet and how, in little-known ways, these often influence local human life.

One can see that Samson strives to make each chapter special, providing each one with its own historical identity. The importance of the work lies primarily in the richness of his research, which thoughtfully and purposefully documents the stories, myths, and curiosities surrounding these iconic landmarks. Without a doubt, it is an ideal book for history enthusiasts and academics who, in the middle of a road trip, look out the window and, with excitement in their hearts, ask themselves: What will this road have to tell us?

Earth Shapers is far more than a collection of essays on notable routes; it is a meditation on movement, connection, and the enduring dialogue between humanity and Earth. Samson transforms what could have been a conventional geographical study into a richly layered narrative that is both informative and thought-provoking. For readers willing to follow its paths, the book offers knowledge and a renewed sense of curiosity about the roads we take—and those that, perhaps, take us.

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