Portal:Maps

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The Maps and Cartography Portal

World map by Gerard van Schagen, Amsterdam, 1689

A map is a symbolic depiction of interrelationships, commonly spatial, between things within a space. A map may be annotated with text and graphics. Like any graphic, a map may be fixed to paper or other durable media, or may be displayed on a transitory medium such as a computer screen. Some maps change interactively. Although maps are commonly used to depict geographic elements, they may represent any space, real or fictional. The subject being mapped may be two-dimensional such as Earth's surface, three-dimensional such as Earth's interior, or from an abstract space of any dimension.

Maps of geographic territory have a very long tradition and have existed from ancient times. The word "map" comes from the medieval Latin: Mappa mundi, wherein mappa meant 'napkin' or 'cloth' and mundi 'of the world'. Thus, "map" became a shortened term referring to a flat representation of Earth's surface. (Full article... )

Cartography (/kɑːrˈtɒɡrəfi/ ; from Ancient Greek: χάρτης chartēs, 'papyrus, sheet of paper, map'; and γράφειν graphein, 'write') is the study and practice of making and using maps. Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality (or an imagined reality) can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively. (Full article... )

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This T and O map, from the first printed version of Isidore's Etymologiae , identifies the three known continents as populated by descendants of Sem (Shem), Iafeth (Japheth) and Cham (Ham).

A T and O map or O–T or T–O map (orbis terrarum, orb or circle of the lands; with the letter T inside an O), also known as an Isidoran map, is a type of early world map that represents world geography as first described by the 7th-century scholar Isidore of Seville (c. 560–636) in his De Natura Rerum and later his Etymologiae (c. 625)

A later manuscript added the names of Noah's sons (Sem, Iafeth and Cham) for each of the three continents (see Biblical terminology for race). A later variation with more detail is the Beatus map drawn by Beatus of Liébana, an 8th-century Spanish monk, in the prologue to his Commentary on the Apocalypse . (Full article... )

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The following are images from various map-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1"Mapa de los Estados Unidos de Méjico by John Distrunell, the 1847 map used during the negotiations of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ending the Mexican–American War. (from History of cartography)

Image 1"Mapa de los Estados Unidos de Méjico by John Distrunell, the 1847 map used during the negotiations of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ending the Mexican–American War. (from History of cartography )
Image 2A general map of the world by Samuel Dunn, 1794, containing star chart, map of the Solar System, map of the Moon and other features along with Earth's both hemispheres. (from History of cartography)

Image 2A general map of the world by Samuel Dunn, 1794, containing star chart, map of the Solar System, map of the Moon and other features along with Earth's both hemispheres. (from History of cartography )
Image 3Al-Masudi's world map (10th century) (from History of cartography)

Image 3Al-Masudi's world map (10th century) (from History of cartography )
Image 4Modern version of the Roman Tabula Peutingeriana (5th century). (from History of cartography)

Image 4Modern version of the Roman Tabula Peutingeriana (5th century). (from History of cartography )
Image 5World map Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Ortelius (1570) (from History of cartography)

Image 5World map Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Ortelius (1570) (from History of cartography )
Image 6The world according to Herodotus, 440 BC (from History of cartography)

Image 6The world according to Herodotus, 440 BC (from History of cartography )
Image 7The Salviati Planisphere, a 1526 version of the Padrón Real provided by Charles V to the cardinal who officiated his wedding to Isabella of Portugal. (from History of cartography)

Image 7The Salviati Planisphere, a 1526 version of the Padrón Real provided by Charles V to the cardinal who officiated his wedding to Isabella of Portugal. (from History of cartography )
Image 8A graphical or bar scale. A map would also usually give its scale numerically ("1:50,000", for instance, means that one cm on the map represents 50,000cm of real space, which is 500 meters) (from Scale (map))

Image 8A graphical or bar scale. A map would also usually give its scale numerically ("1:50,000", for instance, means that one cm on the map represents 50,000cm of real space, which is 500 meters) (from Scale (map) )
Image 9Map of Biscayne National Park, Florida, using a variety of point symbols, along with line and area symbols. Note the use of coordinated fill and stroke symbols for the national park area to solve the challenge of a water boundary. (from Cartographic design)

Image 9Map of Biscayne National Park, Florida, using a variety of point symbols, along with line and area symbols. Note the use of coordinated fill and stroke symbols for the national park area to solve the challenge of a water boundary. (from Cartographic design )
Image 10A survey of Boston Harbor from Atlantic Neptune. (from History of cartography)

Image 10A survey of Boston Harbor from Atlantic Neptune . (from History of cartography )
Image 11A bar scale with the nominal scale expressed as "1:600 000", meaning 1 cm on the map corresponds to 600,000 cm=6 km on the ground. (from Scale (map))

Image 11A bar scale with the nominal scale expressed as "1:600 000", meaning 1 cm on the map corresponds to 600,000 cm=6 km on the ground. (from Scale (map) )
Image 12World Map by Juan de la Cosa (1500), the first map showing the Americas. (from History of cartography)

Image 12World Map by Juan de la Cosa (1500), the first map showing the Americas. (from History of cartography )
Image 13Martin Behaim's Erdapfel (1492) is considered to be the oldest surviving terrestrial globe. (from History of cartography)

Image 13Martin Behaim's Erdapfel (1492) is considered to be the oldest surviving terrestrial globe. (from History of cartography )
Image 14The cartographic process (from Cartographic design)

Image 14The cartographic process (from Cartographic design )
Image 15Clay tablet with map of the Babylonian city of Nippur (c. 1400 BC) (from History of cartography)

Image 15Clay tablet with map of the Babylonian city of Nippur (c. 1400 BC) (from History of cartography )
Image 16Universalis Cosmographia, the Waldseemüller wall map dated 1507, depicts the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Ocean separating Asia from the Americas, by the Italian Amerigo Vespucci. (from History of cartography)

Image 16Universalis Cosmographia, the Waldseemüller wall map dated 1507, depicts the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Ocean separating Asia from the Americas, by the Italian Amerigo Vespucci. (from History of cartography )
Image 17The equidistant projection with Tissot's indicatrix of deformation (from Scale (map))

Image 17The equidistant projection with Tissot's indicatrix of deformation (from Scale (map) )
Image 18The pundit (explorer) cartographer Nain Singh Rawat (19th century) received a Royal Geographical Society gold medal in 1876. (from History of cartography)

Image 18The pundit (explorer) cartographer Nain Singh Rawat (19th century) received a Royal Geographical Society gold medal in 1876. (from History of cartography )
Image 19Illustrated map (from Cartographic design)

Image 19Illustrated map (from Cartographic design )
Image 20Scale variation for the Lambert (green) and Gall (red) equal area projections. (from Scale (map))

Image 20Scale variation for the Lambert (green) and Gall (red) equal area projections. (from Scale (map) )
Image 21The Winkel tripel projection with Tissot's indicatrix of deformation (from Scale (map))

Image 21The Winkel tripel projection with Tissot's indicatrix of deformation (from Scale (map) )
Image 22The Propaganda Map, a 1529 version of the Padrón Real now held by the Vatican Library. (from History of cartography)

Image 22The Propaganda Map, a 1529 version of the Padrón Real now held by the Vatican Library. (from History of cartography )
Image 23An early Western Han dynasty (202 BC – 9 AD) silk map found in tomb 3 of Mawangdui Han tombs site, depicting the Kingdom of Changsha and Kingdom of Nanyue in southern China (note: the south direction is oriented at the top, north at the bottom). (from History of cartography)

Image 23An early Western Han dynasty (202 BC – 9 AD) silk map found in tomb 3 of Mawangdui Han tombs site, depicting the Kingdom of Changsha and Kingdom of Nanyue in southern China (note: the south direction is oriented at the top, north at the bottom). (from History of cartography )
Image 24Scale variation near the equator for the tangent (red) and secant (green) Mercator projections. (from Scale (map))

Image 24Scale variation near the equator for the tangent (red) and secant (green) Mercator projections. (from Scale (map) )
Image 25A chart of an unidentified area (from History of cartography)

Image 25A chart of an unidentified area (from History of cartography )
Image 26CIA map of Iraq, following typical labeling guidelines to maximize legibility and association (from Cartographic design)

Image 26CIA map of Iraq, following typical labeling guidelines to maximize legibility and association (from Cartographic design )
Image 27The Mercator projection with Tissot's indicatrix of deformation. (The distortion increases without limit at higher latitudes) (from Scale (map))

Image 27The Mercator projection with Tissot's indicatrix of deformation. (The distortion increases without limit at higher latitudes) (from Scale (map) )
Image 28The Fra Mauro map, a medieval European map, was made around 1450 by the Italian monk Fra Mauro. It is a circular world map drawn on parchment and set in a wooden frame, about two meters in diameter. (from History of cartography)

Image 28The Fra Mauro map, a medieval European map, was made around 1450 by the Italian monk Fra Mauro. It is a circular world map drawn on parchment and set in a wooden frame, about two meters in diameter. (from History of cartography )
Image 29The Tabula Rogeriana, drawn by Muhammad al-Idrisi for Roger II of Sicily in 1154. Note that the north is at the bottom, and so the map appears "upside down" compared to modern cartographic conventions. (from History of cartography)

Image 29The Tabula Rogeriana , drawn by Muhammad al-Idrisi for Roger II of Sicily in 1154. Note that the north is at the bottom, and so the map appears "upside down" compared to modern cartographic conventions. (from History of cartography )
Image 30The Yu Ji Tu, or Map of the Tracks of Yu Gong, carved into stone in 1137, located in the Stele Forest of Xi'an. This 3 ft (0.91 m) squared map features a graduated scale of 100 li for each rectangular grid. China's coastline and river systems are clearly defined and precisely pinpointed on the map. Yu Gong is in reference to the Chinese deity described in the geographical chapter of the Classic of History, dated 5th century BC. (from History of cartography)

Image 30The Yu Ji Tu, or Map of the Tracks of Yu Gong, carved into stone in 1137, located in the Stele Forest of Xi'an. This 3 ft (0.91 m) squared map features a graduated scale of 100 li for each rectangular grid. China's coastline and river systems are clearly defined and precisely pinpointed on the map. Yu Gong is in reference to the Chinese deity described in the geographical chapter of the Classic of History , dated 5th century BC. (from History of cartography )
Image 31The world according to Hekatæus, 500 BC (from History of cartography)

Image 31The world according to Hekatæus, 500 BC (from History of cartography )
Image 32Infinitesimal elements on the sphere and a normal cylindrical projection (from Scale (map))

Image 32Infinitesimal elements on the sphere and a normal cylindrical projection (from Scale (map) )
Image 33The Equal Earth projection (2018), an increasingly popular equal-area pseudocylindrical projection for world maps (from Cartographic design)

Image 33The Equal Earth projection (2018), an increasingly popular equal-area pseudocylindrical projection for world maps (from Cartographic design )
Image 34The Gough Map, a road map of 14th-century Britain (from History of cartography)

Image 34The Gough Map, a road map of 14th-century Britain (from History of cartography )
Image 35A portrait of a Dutch mapmaker looking up intently from his charts and holding a caliper, 1714. (from History of cartography)

Image 35A portrait of a Dutch mapmaker looking up intently from his charts and holding a caliper, 1714. (from History of cartography )
Image 36Reconstruction of Pomponius Mela's world map. (from History of cartography)

Image 36Reconstruction of Pomponius Mela's world map. (from History of cartography )
Image 37A map of Sikkim, India using shaded relief and hypsometric tints (a form of isarithm) to visualize terrain (from Cartographic design)

Image 37A map of Sikkim, India using shaded relief and hypsometric tints (a form of isarithm) to visualize terrain (from Cartographic design )
Image 38Map of the "Inhabited Quarter" by Sadiq Isfahani from Jaunpur c.1647. This was one of the only surviving Indian made maps. (from History of cartography)

Image 38Map of the "Inhabited Quarter" by Sadiq Isfahani from Jaunpur c.1647. This was one of the only surviving Indian made maps. (from History of cartography )
Image 39Lambert's normal cylindrical equal-area projection with Tissot's indicatrix of deformation (from Scale (map))

Image 39Lambert's normal cylindrical equal-area projection with Tissot's indicatrix of deformation (from Scale (map) )
Image 40Nautical chart by Pedro Reinel (c. 1504), one of the first based on astronomical observations and to depict a scale of latitudes. (from History of cartography)

Image 40Nautical chart by Pedro Reinel (c. 1504), one of the first based on astronomical observations and to depict a scale of latitudes. (from History of cartography )
Image 41The world according to Anaximenes, c. 500 BC (from History of cartography)

Image 41The world according to Anaximenes, c. 500 BC (from History of cartography )
Image 42A chorochromatic map of world land cover, using hue, value, and saturation to differentiate nominal values (from Cartographic design)

Image 42A chorochromatic map of world land cover, using hue, value, and saturation to differentiate nominal values (from Cartographic design )
Image 43Charles Joseph Minard's map of Napoleon's Russian campaign of 1812 (1844) has been long recognized as a masterwork of cartographic design at a time when such was difficult and rare. (from Cartographic design)

Image 43Charles Joseph Minard's map of Napoleon's Russian campaign of 1812 (1844) has been long recognized as a masterwork of cartographic design at a time when such was difficult and rare. (from Cartographic design )
Image 44The Da Ming Hun Yi Tu map, dating c. 1390, exists in multicolour format. (from History of cartography)

Image 44The Da Ming Hun Yi Tu map, dating c. 1390, exists in multicolour format. (from History of cartography )
Image 45Infinitesimal elements on the sphere and a normal cylindrical projection (from Scale (map))

Image 45Infinitesimal elements on the sphere and a normal cylindrical projection (from Scale (map) )
Image 46Surviving fragment of the first World Map of Piri Reis (1513) showing parts of the Americas. (from History of cartography)

Image 46Surviving fragment of the first World Map of Piri Reis (1513) showing parts of the Americas. (from History of cartography )
Image 47A US civil war hachure paper map made in 1867 by Cartographer Nathaniel Michler vs. modern aerial photos over Chancellorsville, Virginia (from History of cartography)

Image 47A US civil war hachure paper map made in 1867 by Cartographer Nathaniel Michler vs. modern aerial photos over Chancellorsville, Virginia (from History of cartography )
Image 48Possibly the oldest surviving map has been engraved on this mammoth tusk, dated to 25,000 BC, found from Pavlov in the Czech Republic. (from History of cartography)

Image 48Possibly the oldest surviving map has been engraved on this mammoth tusk, dated to 25,000 BC, found from Pavlov in the Czech Republic. (from History of cartography )
Image 49The first Japanese printed map to depict the world, including Europe and America. Printed by woodblock in 1710, composed by the Buddhist monk Rokashi Hotan. (from History of cartography)

Image 49The first Japanese printed map to depict the world, including Europe and America. Printed by woodblock in 1710, composed by the Buddhist monk Rokashi Hotan. (from History of cartography )
Image 503D cartography of Washington State, Mount Rainier National Park, Pinnacle Peak trail. (from Cartographic design)

Image 503D cartography of Washington State, Mount Rainier National Park, Pinnacle Peak trail. (from Cartographic design )
Image 51A well-composed transit map of Istanbul, with a high degree of contrast between the symbols, creating a strong visual hierarchy (transit lines are and look most important), figure-ground, and selectivity (the green national rail line can be isolated when necessary). Also note the harmonizing subdued tones of green and blue in the background. (from Cartographic design)

Image 51A well-composed transit map of Istanbul, with a high degree of contrast between the symbols, creating a strong visual hierarchy (transit lines are and look most important), figure-ground, and selectivity (the green national rail line can be isolated when necessary). Also note the harmonizing subdued tones of green and blue in the background. (from Cartographic design )
Image 52Blaeu's world map, originally prepared by Joan Blaeu for his Atlas Maior, published in the first book of the Atlas Van Loon (1664) (from History of cartography)

Image 52Blaeu's world map, originally prepared by Joan Blaeu for his Atlas Maior , published in the first book of the Atlas Van Loon (1664) (from History of cartography )
Image 53Map of the Holy Land, Pietro Vesconte, 1321. Described by Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld as "the first non-Ptolemaic map of a definite country". (from History of cartography)

Image 53Map of the Holy Land, Pietro Vesconte, 1321. Described by Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld as "the first non-Ptolemaic map of a definite country". (from History of cartography )
Image 54The Mercator 1569 world map (from History of cartography)

Image 54The Mercator 1569 world map (from History of cartography )

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" Take your map of India, and find, if you can, a more uninviting spot than Calcutta. Placed in the burning plain of Bengal, on the largest delta of the world, amidst a network of sluggish, muddy streams, in the neighbourhood of the jungles and marshes of the Sunderbands, and yet so distant from the open sea as to miss the benefits of the breeze... it unites every condition of a perfectly unhealthy situation. The place is so bad by nature that human efforts could do little to make it worse. "

— Sir George Trevelyan, Calcutta: Old and New

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This portrait attributed to Francesco Melzi, c. 1515–1518, is the only certain contemporary depiction of Leonardo.

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (15 April 1452 – 2 May 1519) was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. While his fame initially rested on his achievements as a painter, he has also become known for his notebooks, in which he made drawings and notes on a variety of subjects, including anatomy, astronomy, botany, cartography, painting, and palaeontology. Leonardo is widely regarded to have been a genius who epitomised the Renaissance humanist ideal, and his collective works comprise a contribution to later generations of artists matched only by that of his younger contemporary Michelangelo.

Born out of wedlock to a successful notary and a lower-class woman in, or near, Vinci, he was educated in Florence by the Italian painter and sculptor Andrea del Verrocchio. He began his career in the city, but then spent much time in the service of Ludovico Sforza in Milan. Later, he worked in Florence and Milan again, as well as briefly in Rome, all while attracting a large following of imitators and students. Upon the invitation of Francis I, he spent his last three years in France, where he died in 1519. Since his death, there has not been a time where his achievements, diverse interests, personal life, and empirical thinking have failed to incite interest and admiration, making him a frequent namesake and subject in culture. (Full article... )

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South Ossetia war

Credit: ArdadN

Military offensives during the 2008 South Ossetia war.

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... that the actress Lottie Williams was one of the cakewalk dancers depicted on the front cover of the sheet music for Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag"?
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