All About Cartography and Map Printmaking

It's become fairly common to hear stories of people following the instructions of a GPS device (either a standalone unit or an app on their phone) straight into trouble. For example, in New York City, a man followed the instructions, drove into a park, and got his car stuck on a staircase. A woman in Canada followed the instructions of her GPS unit straight into Georgian Bay (she escaped, but her car sank). Following the instructions of a GPS unit is easy, and some people believe these devices have completely replaced paper maps. However, they're not foolproof, which is why maps and mapmaking are important. Since at least about 700 B.C.E., the date of the oldest surviving map, humans have made maps to make sense of the world around them, and they continue to do so today.

Maps can initially look confusing, but they comprise a few basic components. Lines of longitude and latitude overlay the globe like a grid system. Every place on Earth has unique coordinates, with one number representing longitude and the other latitude, that combine to create the place's global address. Each map typically has a compass rose so that it's clear to the reader where the north lies on the map. Scale is also a vital part of maps because users need to know how much area the map represents.

A History of Cartography and Map Collections

• The History of Cartography Volume One: Click each chapter to read a definitive history of mapmaking.
• History of Cartography: The University of Wisconsin studies old maps and how they helped shape current civilizations.
• History of Maps: According to many historians, the first map still exists today is a cave painting.
• From Ptolemy to GPS: The Brief History of Maps: Mappaemundi were maps made by Christians that were less focused on geographical accuracy than illustrating the spread of their faith and teaching people about its tenets.
• Mapping History: Interactive maps from around the globe are available on this website.
• 12 Maps That Changed the World: Many historical maps aren't accurate, but they tell us much about what people knew and believed about the world.
• Southern Nevada and Las Vegas: A History in Maps: Maps perform many different functions, including leaving a historical record of how places change over time.
• Eight Remarkable Early Maps: The Peutinger Map from the Roman Empire is an important early map.
• A Brief History of Maps: Ptolemy, an Egyptian of Greek descent, created cartography.

Longitude/Latitude, Parts of a Map, and the Coordinate System

• Elements of a Map: Eight significant elements make up the elements of a map.
• Parts of a Printed Map: A compass rose helps map readers understand which way the cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west) are from the perspective of the map.
• Map Scale, Coordinate Systems, and Map Projections: Scale is an important part of mapmaking and map-reading.
• Earth's Coordinate System: The coordinate system is based on latitude and longitude. The system involves complex geometry and a series of international treaties and agreements.
• What Is the State Plane Coordinate System? The State Plane Coordinate System (SCPS) is a coordinate system that is only used in the United States to calculate local geographical data.
• Understanding Latitude and Longitude: Longitude and latitude together combine to provide every place on Earth with a global address.
• Latitude and Longitude: Lines of latitude run parallel to the equator, while lines of longitude run from north to south.
• Latitude and Longitude: Together, lines of longitude and latitude create a grid system that covers Earth.

World Continents and Oceans

• The Continents of the World: There are seven continents in the world.
• Continents: The smallest of the seven continents in Australia.
• In the Beginning, There Was Ur: Although there are seven continents today, originally, there was just one.
• Geography and Facts About the World's Five Oceans: The five oceans look quite separate when viewed on a map, but in reality, they are all connected.
• Significance of the Oceans: The five oceans represent 70% of Earth's surface.
• Ocean Geography: The Arctic is the smallest of the five oceans.
• How Many Oceans Are There? According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there is actually only one global ocean.
• Map of the World's Oceans: The CIA created this map of the oceans in 2012.

General Geography Games and Websites

• Countries of the World Map Quiz: Students and adults can refresh their memory of the world's capital cities with this fun game.
• World Game: Continents and oceans make up the basis of this game.
• Worldle: Most people have heard of Wordle, the popular word game. Worldle applies the same simple structure to geography. A new game is posted daily.
• Countries of the World: See how many countries you can name before the timer runs out.
• Map Quiz Game: Players can choose three different difficulty levels for this game.
• Capital Cities of Asia: This game helps players refresh their knowledge of Asian cities and countries.
• Globe Master 3D: The difficulty in this game comes from the fact that no borders are drawn in.
• Free Rice: World Geography: The United Nations sponsors this website, which allows players to practice their geography skills while also earning rice for famished regions of the globe.
• Create Your Own Map: Users can make their own maps on this site.
• GeoPuzzle: Fit the countries into place to help you remember where they are on the globe.
• Map Puzzle: The entire world is the playing field for this interactive puzzle.