We’re on the Map! Cartography—The Art of Mapmaking

We’re on the Map!

Cartography—The Art of Mapmaking

Cartographic Time Capsule. Photo: Jenny Katzner

Cartography, the science of maps and mapping, is an ancient craft that may even predate the invention of writing. Already in antiquity, maps of cities and countries had been drawn up in various civilizations around the world, such as China, Mesopotamia, and Greece.

Through their graphic renditions, maps represent not only a topographical environment but also a cultural one: They reflect a particular worldview and a certain understanding of reality, and they are rich in spatial and human information. Maps in the ancient world were intended not only for the practical purpose of navigation but for conveying information or illustrating perspectives and ideas visually – creating an image of the world (Latin: Imago Mundi).

Mapmaking is the fruit of a collaboration among the geographer, the scientist who provides all the necessary data, and the artist who draws or traces the map. The artist endows the map with a unique style and visual form inside the given area in accordance with a scale, while incorporating an array of signs, symbols, and written information.

While ancient maps were less accurate than modern ones, they were certainly more beautiful and livelier. As cultural artifacts, they reflect perceptions, beliefs, scientific development, and aesthetic values. The choice of details used in each map reflects the point of view of its creator; thus, maps can be said to tell a story.