Map
Ever since humans started travelling, maps have been an essential tool. Can you imagine a journey without setting Google maps?
Maps may be used to show demographics. For example the number of children born in different districts of a state during a particular period. What is common is that they are pictures on a flat surface, showing a place as if you were looking it from above.
Maps have been used for centuries. Earliest maps were probably of the skies and go back to 16000 BC! Cave paintings showing mountains and rivers may have been early forms of maps. Geographical maps as we know, may be about 8000 years old. Babylonian World Map, created around 600 BC is considered to be the first scientific map. Greeks created the first paper map. China too had a tradition of making maps. Indian map-making goes back to Indus Valley Civilization.
‘Cartography’ is the science of making maps. A person who makes maps is called a ‘cartographer.’ Traditionally, cartographers travelled across the land, measuring distances, heights, gradients and angles before making maps. They used instruments like telescopes, rulers, compasses and barometers. But today, maps are made with the help of computers and satellites.
Geographical Information Systems ‘is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking and displaying data related to positions on Earth’s surface.’
In earlier times, maps were prepared by hand and beautifully illustrated. People collected maps as a hobby.
Maps and Atlas Museum of La Jolla in California, USA is only for maps!
