World Map Through The Ages

As a quote goes, " Rome was not built in a day, but they were laying bricks every hour". Just like that the history of World maps or Maps is very vast that, in past every geographer and cartographer wants to make accurate map every second time, but they were just laying the bricks for the Perfection of it. 

World Map

Cartography

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The earliest known world maps date to classical antiquity, the oldest example of the 5th to 6th century BCE maps based on Flat Earth paradigm. World maps assuming a Spherical Earth first appear in the Hellenistic Period. The developments of  Greek Geography during hellenstic period, notably first known by Eratosthenes and Posidonius. 

Eratosthenes is from cyrene, he was a Greek Polymath: a mathematician, a geographer, a poet, a astronomer, and a music theorist. He was best known for his work of  inventing a system of  Longitude and Latitude and he also made a map of known world.  

With the culmination of  Eratosthene and Posidonius, The World Map of Ptolemy created around 2nd Century CE also culminated in Roman Era, which would remain authoritative throughout the Middle Age. Claudius Ptolemy was an alexandrian mathematician, astronomer, geographer, and music theorist. Ptolemy synthesized Greek knowledge of the known Universe. His work enabled astronomers to make accurate predictions of planetary positions and Solar and Lunar Eclipse.

Since the works of Ptolemy, enabled Cartographers the approximate size of the Earth and allowed to estimate the extent of their geographical knowledge, and to indicate parts of the planet known to exist but not yet explored. With The Age of Discovery, during the 15th to 18th Centuries, World Maps became increasingly accurate; Exploration of Antarctica, Australia, and the interior of Africa by western mapmakers was left to the 19th and Early 20th Century.

History 

The History of World Maps is a fascinating journey that spans Thousand of Years. From the earliest known maps created by ancient civilizations to modern-day digital maps, the evolution of world maps has been shaped by technological advancements, cultural influences, and the desire to explore and understand the world around us.

One of the earliest known world maps is the Babylonian Map of the World, which dates back to around 600 BCE. This map was created on a clay tablet and shows the world as a flat disk surrounded by water, with Babylon at the center. The map includes the Mediterranean sea, trade and the surrounding region.

The Greeks and Romans, also created maps of the world during this time, with the Greek Philosopher Anaximander creating one of the earliest known maps of the world in the 6th century BCE. Later The Roman geographer Ptolemy created a world map in the 2nd century CE that was based on his extensive knowledge of Geography and Astronomy.

During the Middle Ages, maps became more detailed and accurate thanks to advancements in cartography and the influence of islamic scholars. The Islamic world produced some of the most detailed and accurate maps of the time, including the famous 11th century map created by Al-Idrisi. This map, known as the Tabula Rogerian, was one of the most accurate maps of the world at the time and was based on extensive research and exploration.

Age Of Exploration 

The Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries brought about a new era of world maps. Explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama created maps of their voyages, which helped to expand European knowledge of the world. The famous Mercator Projection, created in 1569 by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator, was one of the most influential maps of this era and is still widely used today. The Mercator Projection was designed to help sailors navigate the world's oceans and is known for its distortion of the size of landmasses at the poles.

The 19th and 20th centuries brought about significant advancements in cartography with the introduction of aerial photography, satellite imagery, and computer mapping. One of the most famous maps of this era is the Peters Projection, created in 1974 by German historian Arno Peters. The Peters projection is known for its controversial depiction of the size of landmass, which aims to correct the distortion of the Mercator Projection.

Conclusion 

Today, world maps continue to evolve and change as new technologies and cultural influences shape the way we see and understand the world. Digital maps and GPS technology have revolutionized the way we navigate and explore the world, making it easier than ever to travel and discover new places. From ancient clay tablets to modern-day digital maps, The hisory of world maps is a testament to human curiosity, ingenuity, and the desire to explore and understand the world ahead us.

                                                                                                                                                       

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