History of Cartography – Study Notes
1. Introduction
- Cartography = the art and science of map‑making.
- Its development mirrors advances in technology, exploration, and cultural worldview.
- Key themes: representation of space, accuracy vs. symbolism, and the map as a tool of power.
2. Pre‑Historical & Ancient Mapping
| Period / Culture |
Notable Maps / Artifacts |
Characteristics |
Significance |
| Paleolithic (c. 30 000 – 10 000 BCE) |
Engravings of rivers & coastlines on cave walls (e.g., Lascaux) |
Symbolic, not scaled |
Early spatial awareness |
| Mesopotamia (c. 2500 BCE) |
Imago Mundi (Babylonian world map), clay tablets |
Circular world, Babylon at center; simple symbols for mountains, rivers |
First known world map; reflects cosmology |
| Ancient Egypt (c. 2000 BCE) |
Tomb ceiling maps, cadastral maps for land tax |
Grid‑based, oriented to the Nile |
Practical use for administration |
| Ancient Greece (c. 500 – 200 BCE) |
Anaximander (first world map), Eratosthenes (latitude/longitude grid) |
Move toward geometric projection, use of latitude/longitude |
Foundations of scientific cartography |
| Roman Empire (c. 100 BCE – 200 CE) |
Tabula Peutingeriana (road map), Ptolemy’s Geographia (later) |
Emphasis on roads & imperial control; use of coordinates (later) |
Maps as tools of governance and military logistics |
3. Medieval Cartography (5th – 15th c.)
3.1. Types of Maps
| Type |
Purpose |
Example |
| Mappa Mundi (world maps) |
Religious & cosmological illustration |
Hereford Mappa Mundi (c. 1300) |
| Portolan Charts |
Navigation along coastlines |
14th‑century Italian charts (e.g., Carta Pisana) |
| T-O Maps |
Symbolic Christian worldview (East at top) |
Ebstorf Map (c. 1235) |
| Cadastral Maps |
Land ownership, tax |
English Domesday Book (1086) |
3.2. Key Developments
- Compass rose appears on portolan charts (late 13th c.).
- Use of latitude (via celestial observations) becomes common; longitude remains problematic.
- Islamic cartography (e.g., Al‑Idrisi’s Tabula Rogeriana, 1154) integrates Ptolemaic knowledge with new observations, producing highly accurate regional maps.
4. Age of Exploration (15th – 17th c.)
| Explorer / Cartographer |
Map / Atlas |
Innovations |
| Gerardus Mercator (1569) |
Mercator Projection |
Conformal cylindrical projection; preserves angles → vital for navigation |
| Abraham Ortelius (1570) |
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (first modern atlas) |
Standardized map size, systematic bibliography |
| John Speed (1611) |
Prospect of the Most Famous Cities |
Detailed city plans, decorative elements |
| Piri Reis ( |
|
|