History of Cartography

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Outline
 Sequence of Development
 Early Map Development
 Cartography in China
 Cartography in Europe
 Impact of Changing Ideas
 Impact of Changing Technology
 Information Age Mapping

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I. Sequence of Development
1. Evolution
 Linear Evolution/Ladder Concept
 progress in cartography was a steady progress from
less to more sophisticated forms.
 Discontinuities in the process are called missing
links.
2. Revolution
 Tree Concept
 describes a turning point type process in the
development of cartography where new map types
cause branching in the cartographic field
 Each revolution leads to a new map type

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I. Sequence of Development

Ladder Concept

Tree Concept

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II. Early Map Development
 Mapmaking is one of the earliest human
technologies we know of and goes back as far as
human history itself.
 Map materials ranged from a sketch in the sand to
the use of leather, parchment, cloth, bone, stone
and cave walls as well as, of course, human
memory.
 Early maps depicted settlements, for example,
hunting grounds, natural or man made boundaries,
and landscape features.
 Maps of buildings, such as temple complexes and
palaces, were also common during the early city
civilizations.
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 II. Early Map Development
The earliest world map is
a Babylonian clay tablet
from the sixth century
B.C., on which Earth is
shown as a flat circular
disc surrounded by ocean
and several mythical
islands.

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 II. Early Map Development

A map made in Ancient

Egypt with an estimated
date to 3200 B.C.
showing the trace of gold
workings in Egypt. The
map, now in Turin,
depicts gold workings
around the time of King
Seti I (1350-1205 B.C.).

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III. Cartography in China
 Astronomical knowledge existed in the
Shang Dynasty, 11th century B.C.
 Map Fragments from 480-100 B.C.
 Three maps made in the Han Dynasty (2nd
century B.C.) were discovered.
 In a tomb
 made in silk.
 one topographic map focused on military
matters: streams, roads, mountain ranges,
names, scale and orthogonal view point.

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III. Cartography in China
Ancient Chinese
topographical map
(200 B.C.): A silk map
in the ancient tombs.
"Their great
significance lies in the
fact that they are in
part surprisingly
accurate and detailed
and show that the art
of cartography was
well advanced at this
time". Bulling, 1978
(cited in Wilford, 2000)

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III. Cartography in China
 The first compass was invented in China. (453-
221 B.C.).
 was not widely used until North Sung Dynasty
( 960-1126 A.D.) when artificial magnetisation
was invented.
 introduced to Europe in 12th century.
 Paper-making was invented in 105 A.D., East
Han Dynasty (25-220 A.D.).
 The first printing of map 1155 A.D. (South
Song Dynasty: 1127-1279, 300 years before
Europe).

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III. Cartography in China: Ancient
Compass

 Up: The earliest magnetic compass Si-

nan made in West Han Dynasty (206
B.C. 108 A.D.). Right: the clay figure
made in South Song Dynasty (1127-
1279 A.D.) showing the rather modern
look compass held in the man's hand.
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III. Cartography in China
The earliest paper map
made in the West Han
Dynasty, almost at the
same time when the
paper itself was invented
by the Chinese. The
paper map was
discovered in an ancient
tomb in Gansu Province,
western China.

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III. Cartography in China

The earliest
printed map
made in the
South
Soong
Dynasty
showing
east part of
China in the
modern
history.
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IV. Cartography in Europe
 Pre 500 A.D.: Greek and Roman Period
 Aristotle: Earth is a sphere.
 Erathostheses: Circumference of the Earth.
 Ptolomy:
 Geographia – spherical Earth
 first detailed map of the Earth

 He proposed a system of projections and

coordinate systems that are still used today

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IV. Cartography in Europe: Greek and
Roman Period

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IV. Cartography in Europe: Greek and
Roman Period
 The world-view of
the Roman
Empire (400
A.D.): A circular
earth disc, set in
a surrounding
ocean, became
the dominant
interpretation of
the Middle Ages
cartographer.

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IV. Cartography in Europe
 Medieval Age
 European maps were more ecclesiastic than
cartographic.
The known world was bordered by Cold (N),
Heat(S), Ocean (W), Paradise (E); maps of
this time are known as "T-in-O" maps. Letter
O for the circle of the earth, T formed by
Mediterranean (vertical) and Don and Nile
(horizontal), separating Asia, Europe and
Africa.
 Jerusalem was the center of these maps

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IV. Cartography in Europe: Medieval Age
 Medieval Age
 cartography developed along more practical and
realistic lines in Arabic lands, including the
Mediterranean region.
 al-Idrisi (1154) constructed world map for a Christian
king of Sicily. Astronomers and map makers were
sophisticated in use of compass and develop
sexigesimal system, i.e., based on 60. 360 degree
system still in use.
 All maps were, of course, drawn and illuminated by
hand, which made the distribution of maps extremely
limited.

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IV. Cartography in Europe: Medieval Age
 The Ebstorf map
showing Christ's
head, hands and
feet at the extents
of the world (1235
A.D.).

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IV. Cartography in Europe: Medieval Age
 Hereford Mappa Mundi,  Al-Idrisi's map of the
about 1300, Hereford world. Drawn with south
Cathedral, England. A at the top, this later
classic "T-O" map with example has been
Jerusalem at center and inverted for easier
east toward the top. viewing

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IV. Cartography in Europe: Renaissance
Period
 Rediscovery of Ptolemy’s works
 Mapped new discoveries revitalized map making as
an art and science
 Increasing accuracy and instrumentation due to
more exploration and better instrumentation.
 Geradus Mercator-developed the map of Europe
(1554) based on cylindrical projection. Allowed
straight line bearings. Map projection still in use
today.
 Elaborate nature of maps. Compass roses,
cartouche (ornate or ornamental frame).
 Progress in printing processes.

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IV. Cartography in Europe: Renaissance
Period
This map was constructed in the 15th century from Ptolemy's
written directions and descriptions, and reflects geographical
knowledge of the known world in the 2nd century A.D.

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IV. Cartography in Europe: Modern
Period
 18th Century Onwards
 Until 18th century, most maps are general maps and
charts
 From late 17th century, thematic maps began to
appear
 Rise of scientific cartography based on more
accurate observations. Invention of the chronometer
by John Harrison (~1759) increased accuracy of
longitude determination.
 National surveys:
 Military and commercial needs
 Imperialism and colonialism

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IV. Cartography in Europe: Modern
Period
 Developments in World Wars
of 20th Century.
 Aerial photography and
photogrammetry
 With the advent of photo-
lithography, greatly improved
map prints became
available.
 Navigation charts
 Cold War:
 New emphasis on military
mapping and standardization
 Satellite observation
platforms.
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V. Impact of Changing Ideas

a) The early mapping may be associated with the

development of symbolization (or
presentation) methods that were used by early
map makers
b) Early maps were figurative (not intended for an
accurate representation of spatial concepts)
c) Modernization of mapping techniques was a
consequence of the development on
geometrical concepts by Greek scholars,
which led to creation of coordinate systems

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V. Impact of Changing Ideas
d) Conflicting information - during medieval times
religious beliefs took precedence over scientific
developments in mapping from the earlier periods;
cartographers of this period were forced to balance
between the requirements of church dogma and placing
useful information on the maps; maps created during the
Dark Ages lacked many geographic merits and were
called church maps
e) During the Renaissance, rapid geographic discoveries
led to the need of small scale mapping reflected by
globalism; experiments in map projections became more
common

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V. Impact of Changing Ideas
e) Scientific approach to map making originated in Western
Europe and was a natural consequence of the previous
period; cause-effect reasoning, probability and other
methods were introduced during the period of
Enlightenment (end of XVII to beginning of XIX)
f) During the Enlightenment a shift from the general
reference maps (showing placement of features) to
thematic maps (showing distribution of features) took
place
g) Upon the development of systems/ecological models
(in the last few decades) where different components of
the human and natural environments interact to result in
a set of complex outcomes, map making adapted some
of these approaches reflected in cartographic
modelling of abstract concepts such as sustainability
and suitability 27
VI. Impact of Changing Technology

a) cartography adapts quickly technological

advances in mechanics, optics, chemistry,
metallurgy, electromagnetism and electronics
b) aim in applying new technologies is to produce
more accurate, quicker, durable and cheaper
cartographic products

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VI. Impact of Changing Technology
c) the main technological steps in the history of cartography
are:
1. manual (handmade, one of a kind charts and maps)
2. magnetic (magnetic compass, magnetic storage
devices)
3. mechanical (press)
4. optical (photo data collection)
5. photo-chemical (chemical printing, photography)
6. electronic (digital forms of data storage
d) integrating technologies: blending of various
technologies

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 VI. Impact of Changing Technology
Electronic

Photo-chemical

Optical

Mechanical
Magnetic

Manual

1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000
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VI. Impact of Changing Technology

Manual Mechanical

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VII. Information Age Mapping
 Information.
 Information systems.
 Geographical information systems (GIS).
 Maps play a key role in GIS.
 GIS are crucial in modern mapping.

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 VII. Information Age Mapping
Detail of the New York City
subway map showing lower
Detail of map showing
Manhattan and the former Kansai International
World Trade Center subway Airport, Japan.
stations.

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 VII. Information Age Mapping: GIS Maps
Toxic Plume

Lake system

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