Map Making
Geography: KS3, topic 1.1.1
Map Making
A map is a two-dimensional drawing of a space or of an area.
Cartography
- Cartography is the study and practice of map-making, usually representing the Earth's surface on a flat surface.
- Cartographers are people who make maps.
Uses of maps
- A map can show the physical landscape or human geography of an area, such as a city, country, continent or the whole world.
- The most common maps used today are road maps.
- A map is usually represented on a flat (2D) surface.
Maps through the ages
- The earliest known map of the world is a carving on stone which dates from the 6th century BC.
- The map shows parts of Assyria, Babylonia and Armenia in the Middle East.
- Today, we use new mapping technologies including the GPS (Global Positioning System), mobile phones and GIS (Geographical Information Systems).
Test yourself on Map Making
Which year does the earliest known map of the world date back to?
What do we call people who make maps?
Which type of map is shown?