History of CartographyHistory of Cartography

History of Cartography 2

History of CartographyHistory of Cartography

Sequence of development Cartography in China Cartography in Europe Impact of changing ideas Impact of changing technology Information age mapping

History of Cartography 3

Sequence of DevelopmentSequence of Development

Evolution - the ladder concept. “Missing links” - gaps in development.

Revolution - the tree concept. Each revolution leads to a new map type. Map types develop in evolutionary fashion,

until the next revolutionary change occurs.

History of Cartography 4

Cartographic DevelopmentCartographic Development

OriginA

OriginB

Present

Present

Ladder Concept

Tree Concept

History of Cartography 5

Cartographic Revolution Cartographic Revolution and Evolutionand Evolution

30,000 B.C.0 A.D.

200 A.D.

500 A.D.

1200 A.D.

1700 A.D.

1800 A.D.

1900 A.D.

2000 A.D.

The diverse map types we know today emerged through a long process of cartographic revolution and evolution.

(From Robinson, et al., 1995)

History of Cartography 6

Early DevelopmentEarly Development

Nobody knows when the first map was made.

Principles of cartography were understood as early as 2500 BC. When Babylonians drew maps on clay tablets.

History of Cartography 7

Early Early Mesopotamian Mesopotamian Map of the Map of the WorldWorld

The earliest extant 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.

(From Wilford, 2000)

History of Cartography 8

A Map From Ancient EgyptA Map From Ancient EgyptAn 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.).

(From GEOEurope, January 2000)

History of Cartography 9

Cartography in ChinaCartography in China Astronomical knowledge existed in Shang (商 )

Dynasty, 11th century B.C. “Fragment on Maps” 480-100 B.C. Three maps made in Han (漢 ) Dynasty (2nd century

B.C.) were discovered. In a tomb (長沙馬王堆漢墓 ). made in silk. one topographic map focused on military matters: streams,

roads, mountain ranges, names, scale and orthogonal view point.

For more details please check web pagehttp://geog.hkbu.edu.hk/geog1150/Chinese

History of Cartography 10

An Over An Over 2000 Year 2000 Year Old MapOld Map

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)

History of Cartography 11

Cartography in China Cartography in China (Cont.)(Cont.)

The first compass was invented in China. 司南 (戰國 , 453-221 B.C.). was not widely used until North Song Dynasty (北宋 ,

960-1126 A.D.) when the artificial magnetisation was invented.

introduced to Europe in 12th century. Paper-making was invented in 105 A.D., East

Han Dynasty (東漢 , 25-220 A.D.). The first printing of map 1155 A.D. (South Song

Dynasty: 南宋 , 1127-1279, 300 years before Europe).

History of Cartography 12

The Ancient CompassThe Ancient Compass

Up: The earliest magnetic compass Si-nan ( 司南 ) made in West Han Dynasty ( 西漢 , 206 B.C. – 8 A.D.). Right: the clay figure made in South Song Dynasty ( 南宋 , 1127-1279 A.D.) showing the rather modern look compass held in the man's hand.

(The National Museum of Chinese History)

History of Cartography 13

Ancient Mechanic DevicesAncient Mechanic DevicesThe compass coach invented in the "Three-Nation" eras ( 三國 , 220-280 A.D.).

The mileage coach invented in the East Han Dynasty.(models made according to historical records, The National Museum of Chinese History)

History of Cartography 14

The Earliest Paper MapThe Earliest Paper MapThe earliest paper map made in the West Han Dynasty, almost at the same time when the paper itself was invented by Chinese. The paper map was discovered in an ancient tomb in Gansu Province ( 甘肅天水放馬灘 5 號漢墓 ), western China.

(The Provincial Museum of Gansu)

History of Cartography 15

The The Earliest Printed MapEarliest Printed MapThe earliest printed map made in the South Song Dynasty showing east part of China in the modern history.

(Beijing Library)

History of Cartography 16

Cartography in EuropeCartography in Europe

Aristotle (384-322 B.C.): Earth is a sphere.

Ptolemy (90-160 A.D.): Geographia. Development in medieval period (the

“dark age”) was limited, except the sudden appearance in 13th century of “portolan charts”.

History of Cartography 17

Ancient GreeceAncient Greece

Map of Hecataeus (about 500 B.C.): by an empirical approach, relying on exploration and travel instead of pure geometry alone.

(From Dorling and Fairbairn, 1997)

History of Cartography 18

The Roman EmpireThe Roman Empire

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.(From Dorling and Fairbairn, 1997)

History of Cartography 19

Typology of Typology of mappae mappae mundimundi

A S I A

EUROPE

Med

iterra

nean

AFRICA

Ocean River

Don Nile

E

N

W

S

A S I A

EUROPE

Med

iterra

nean

AF

RIC

A

Oce

an

Riv

er

ANTI

PODE

SOce

an

River

Don Nile

E

N

W

S

Ocean River

TORRID

ZONE

TEMPERATEZONE

TEMPERATEZONE

FRIDID ZONE

FRIDID ZONE

Tripartite

Zonal

Quadripartite

Transitional

(From Harley and Woodward, 1987, cited in Dorling and Fairbairn, 1997)

History of Cartography 20

The Ebstorf The Ebstorf MapMap

The Ebstorf map showing Christ's head, hands and feet at the extents of the world (1235 A.D.).(From Dorling and Fairbairn, 1997)

History of Cartography 21

Cartography in Europe Cartography in Europe (Cont.)(Cont.)

The renaissance in western cartography (later half of 1500s) beginning of printing (1450) Great Discovery (e.g. Columbus) led to more accurate

maps topographic survey (France) at 1:86,400 completed in

1800

The introduction of metric system (Napoleon) 1 metre = 1/10,000,000 part of the arc distance from

the equator to the pole

History of Cartography 22

Cartography in Europe Cartography in Europe (Cont.)(Cont.)

The rise of thematic maps Until 18th century, most maps are general

maps and charts From late 17th century, thematic maps began

to appear

The growth of modern cartography since 19th century with the inventions of photography and computers

History of Cartography 23

Impact of Changing IdeasImpact of Changing Ideas

Concept of representation Early maps: more figurative than literal

Geometry Shape and size of the earth Locational reference system

Reconciling conflicting information Church maps

History of Cartography 24

Figurative MapsFigurative Maps

Abstract stick charts helped Polynesians navigate between remote South Sea Islands by somehow representing essential characteristics of prevailing winds and currents.

(From Robinson, et al., 1995)

History of Cartography 25

The Map Based on The Map Based on Ptolemy's DescriptionsPtolemy's Descriptions

The map 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.(From Robinson, et al., 1995)

History of Cartography 26

Impact of Changing Ideas Impact of Changing Ideas (Cont.)(Cont.)

Science and measurement the concept of order: cause-effect relations chance (or probability) Enlightenment - positional accuracy

Concept of distribution place - general reference maps space - the spatial extent and variation of

features - the idea of distribution thematic maps

History of Cartography 27

Early Survey in FranceEarly Survey in FranceThe perceived shape of France before and after the 1693 survey by Picard and La Hire (revised coastline in bold).(from Dorling and Fairbairn, 1997)

History of Cartography 28

Impact of Changing Ideas Impact of Changing Ideas (Cont.)(Cont.)

Systems/ecological thinking ecological model: view the environment as a

system of interrelated processes systems approach cartographic modelling: environmental

phenomena are selected, weighted by importance, and linked together to form a numerical index

History of Cartography 29

Impact of Changing Impact of Changing TechnologyTechnology Manual: mappae mundi and portolan charts -

hand drawing Magnetic: compass and magnetic media Mechanical: machine process and printing Optical: telescopic sighting instruments and

projection, optical media Photo-chemical: photogrammetry Electronic: computer process

History of Cartography 30

Impact of Changing Impact of Changing TechnologyTechnology

1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000

Manual

Magnetic

Mechanical

Optical

Photo-chemical

Electronic

History of Cartography 31

Manual TechnologyManual Technology

A formschneider (one who carves woodcuts) at work in front of a window. In those days there was no satisfactory substitute for daylight.

"Manual mapping procedures were dominant during the longest period in the recorded history of cartography".

— Robinson, et al., 1995

History of Cartography 32

Mechanical Mechanical TechnologyTechnology

Printing from a copperplate engraving with the rolling press was a hard work.

"Machine power augmented and magnified human muscle power. The result was a major increase in the speed and efficiency of the mapping process, with a commensurate reduction in mapping cost".

— Robinson, et al., 1995

History of Cartography 33

Information Age MappingInformation Age Mapping

Information age. Information. Information systems. Geographical information systems (GIS). Maps play a key role in GIS. GIS are crucial in modern mapping.

History of Cartography 34

Mapping With GISMapping With GIS

Datacollection

EditingStructuringUpdating

DataBase

Map

StatisticalTools

GraphicalTools

DataManipulation