Cartography
Cartography is the art of mapmaking, the crafting of representations of the Earth upon a flat surface. Maps are symbolic depictions that highlight the relationship between elements of that space, including objects, regions and themes. There are many different types of maps. The most commonly used maps today are road maps – which depict streets, roads and highways to enable motorists to reach their destination. However the first maps did not attempt to represent areas of the Earth at all, rather the earliest known maps were of the heavens. Cave paintings dating to 16 500 BC were found in the Lascaux caves, depicting star constellations.
The earliest known world map is the Imago Mundi portraying sixth century BC Babylonia. It shows Babylon on the Euphrates, surrounded by a round landmass on which Assyria and Armenia were labelled, in turn encircled by Oceanus with seven islands. The accompanying text mentions seven outer regions beyond the ocean displayed.
According to some scholars, these early world maps demonstrated a significant development in the intellectual capacity of humans and of culture. This is because maps served to record the advancement of human knowledge, which could then be passed down to succeeding generations.
Antique Maps
Although today’s technology allows for the depiction of space in three-dimensional, dynamic and interactive forms, most maps are still static and two-dimensional, just as the earliest maps were. This is not to say that the craft of mapmaking has not evolved. For example, the orientation of maps has changed over time. The orientation of a map is the relationship between the directions on the map and the corresponding compass directions in reality. Many medieval European maps were centered on Jerusalem with East at the top. However there was no single convention as to orientation until around 1400, with the reintroduction of Ptolemy’s Geography.
Antique maps are sought after by many collectors because of their unique ability to reflect the history of the world. Maps are not simple geographic representations but are embedded with values and culture. For example, you can trace the rise and fall of empires and their imperialistic ambitions through maps.
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