Historical shipping routes are largely the same as they are today. Differences appear as more and more countries become involved in global maritime trade. The high traffic areas in the Atlantic have only become busier over time. You can see how the United States developed through maritime trade in our History of Shipping in the United States infographic.

Thanks to i09.com we found awesome shipping route maps from Ben Schmidt at Sapping Attention. The four maps display the density of shipping routes from 1750-2000. Things worth noting are the huge reduction in routes south of Africa and South America after 1900 due to the Panama Canal opening in 1914 and the Suez Canal in 1869. You will also see routes influenced by political issues between countries.

Graphical representations like these are always a thrill to find. The data for these images were pulled from the ICOADS US Maury collection. It’s so important that these records have remained in tact for so long and in such great supply.

We’re always looking for more awesome resources related to logistics and distribution. If you’d like to share your content with us, give us a shout on Twitter or drop a comment below!