A world map is a map of most or all of the surface of Earth. World maps, because of their scale, must deal with the problem of projection. Maps rendered in two dimensions by necessity distort the display of the three-dimensional surface of the earth. While this is true of any map, these distortions reach extremes in a world map. Many techniques have been developed to present world maps that address diverse technical and aesthetic goals.[2]
The most detailed, true-color map of the entire Earth to date
Charting a world map requires global knowledge of the earth, its oceans, and its continents. From prehistory through the Middle ages, creating an accurate world map would have been impossible because less than half of Earth's coastlines and only a small fraction of its continental interiors were known to any culture. With exploration that began during the European Renaissance, knowledge of the Earth's surface accumulated rapidly, such that most of the world's coastlines had been mapped, at least roughly, by the mid-1700s and the continental interiors by the twentieth century.
Maps of the world generally focus either on political features or on physical features. Political maps emphasize territorial boundaries and human settlement. Physical maps show geographical features such as mountains, soil type, or land use. Geological maps show not only the surface, but characteristics of the underlying rock, fault lines, and subsurface structures. Choropleth maps use color hue and intensity to contrast differences between regions, such as demographic or economic statistics.
All world maps are based on one of several map projections, or methods of representing a globe on a plane. All projections distort geographic features, distances, and directions in some way. The various map projections that have been developed provide different ways of balancing accuracy and the unavoidable distortion inherent in making world maps.
A thematic map shows geographical information about one or a few focused subjects. These maps "can portray physical, social, political, cultural, economic, sociological, agricultural, or any other aspects of a city, state, region, nation, or continent".[3]
Early world maps cover depictions of the world from the Iron Age to the Age of Discovery and the emergence of modern geography during the early modern period. Old maps provide information about places that were known in past times, as well as the philosophical and cultural basis of the map, which were often much different from modern cartography. Maps are one means by which scientists distribute their ideas and pass them on to future generations.[4]
^Large-Scale Distortions in Map Projections, 2007, David M. Goldberg & J. Richard Gott III, 2007, V42 N4.
^ American Cartographic Association's Committee on Map Projections (1988). Choosing a World Map. Falls Church: American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. pp. 1–2.
^Thematic Maps Map Collection & Cartographic Information Services Unit. University Library, University of Washington. Accessed 27 December 2009.
Edson, Evelyn (2011). The World Map, 1300–1492: The Persistence of Tradition and Transformation. JHU Press. ISBN1421404303
Harvey, P. D. A. (2006). The Hereford world map: medieval world maps and their context. British Library. ISBN0712347607
May 19, 2023
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This article is about maps of Earth For other uses see World map disambiguation A world map is a map of most or all of the surface of Earth World maps because of their scale must deal with the problem of projection Maps rendered in two dimensions by necessity distort the display of the three dimensional surface of the earth While this is true of any map these distortions reach extremes in a world map Many techniques have been developed to present world maps that address diverse technical and aesthetic goals 2 A world map on the Winkel tripel projection a low error map projection 1 adopted by the National Geographic Society for reference maps The most detailed true color map of the entire Earth to date Charting a world map requires global knowledge of the earth its oceans and its continents From prehistory through the Middle ages creating an accurate world map would have been impossible because less than half of Earth s coastlines and only a small fraction of its continental interiors were known to any culture With exploration that began during the European Renaissance knowledge of the Earth s surface accumulated rapidly such that most of the world s coastlines had been mapped at least roughly by the mid 1700s and the continental interiors by the twentieth century Maps of the world generally focus either on political features or on physical features Political maps emphasize territorial boundaries and human settlement Physical maps show geographical features such as mountains soil type or land use Geological maps show not only the surface but characteristics of the underlying rock fault lines and subsurface structures Choropleth maps use color hue and intensity to contrast differences between regions such as demographic or economic statistics Contents 1 Map projections 2 Thematic maps 3 Historical maps 4 See also 5 References 6 Further readingMap projectionsFurther information Map projection See also List of map projections All world maps are based on one of several map projections or methods of representing a globe on a plane All projections distort geographic features distances and directions in some way The various map projections that have been developed provide different ways of balancing accuracy and the unavoidable distortion inherent in making world maps Perhaps the best known projection is the Mercator Projection originally designed as a nautical chart Mercator projection 82 S and 82 N Mollweide projection B J S Cahill Butterfly Map 1909 from 1919 pamphlet Polar azimuthal equidistant projection A south up map Pacific centric map more commonly used in East Asian and Oceania countries Gall Peters projection an equal area map projection Robinson projection formerly used by National Geographic SocietyThematic mapsFurther information Thematic map A thematic map shows geographical information about one or a few focused subjects These maps can portray physical social political cultural economic sociological agricultural or any other aspects of a city state region nation or continent 3 Clickable world map with climate classification A simple political map of the world Topographical map of the world Map of anthropogenic CO2 emission by country United Nations Human Development Index by country as of 2016 World map showing life expectancy 2018 population density people per km2 by country Volcano map World map showing the continents circa 200 million years ago Triassic period Satellite image of Earth at nightHistorical mapsFurther information Early world maps Early world maps cover depictions of the world from the Iron Age to the Age of Discovery and the emergence of modern geography during the early modern period Old maps provide information about places that were known in past times as well as the philosophical and cultural basis of the map which were often much different from modern cartography Maps are one means by which scientists distribute their ideas and pass them on to future generations 4 The world Abraham Ortelius s Typus Orbis Terrarum first published in 1564 Hypothetical reconstruction of the world map of Anaximander 610 546 BC World map according to Posidonius 150 130 BC drawn in 1628 Ideal reconstruction of medieval T and O maps from Meyers Konversationslexikon 1895 Asia shown on the right Tabula Rogeriana world map by Muhammad al Idrisi in 1154north is to the bottom World map in Octant projection 1514 from Leonardo da Vinci s Windsor papers World map by Gerardus Mercator 1569 first map in the well known Mercator projection Kunyu Wanguo Quantu Ming dynasty 1602 1652 world mapby Claes Janszoon Visscher A historical map of the world by Gerard van Schagen 1689See also Maps portal Geography portal World portalWikipedia s clickable world map Global Map Globe International Map of the World List of map projections List of world map changes Mappa mundi Maps of the world Rhumbline network Theorema Egregium Time zoneReferences Large Scale Distortions in Map Projections 2007 David M Goldberg amp J Richard Gott III 2007 V42 N4 American Cartographic Association s Committee on Map Projections 1988 Choosing a World Map Falls Church American Congress on Surveying and Mapping pp 1 2 Thematic Maps Map Collection amp Cartographic Information Services Unit University Library University of Washington Accessed 27 December 2009 History of maps and cartography emporia edu Further readingEdson Evelyn 2011 The World Map 1300 1492 The Persistence of Tradition and Transformation JHU Press ISBN 1421404303 Harvey P D A 2006 The Hereford world map medieval world maps and their context British Library ISBN 0712347607 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title World map amp oldid 1153218288, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
