World map: Difference between revisions

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{{About|maps of Earth}}
{{About|maps of Earth}}
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[[File:Winkel triple projection SW.jpg|right|300px|thumb|A world map on the [[Winkel tripel projection]],<br>a low-error map projection<ref>''[http://www.physics.drexel.edu/~goldberg/projections/goldberg_gott.pdf Large-Scale Distortions in Map Projections] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216075805/http://www.physics.drexel.edu/~goldberg/projections/goldberg_gott.pdf |date=16 February 2016 }}'', 2007,  David M. Goldberg & [[J. Richard Gott]] III, 2007, V42 N4.</ref> adopted by the [[National Geographic Society]] for reference maps]]
[[File:Equal-Earth-Physical-No-Type (cropped).jpg|thumb|300x300px|A world map showing countries and continents at their true sizes relative to each other]]
[[File:Blue Marble 2002.png|300px|thumb|NASA's [[The Blue Marble#Subsequent Blue Marble images|Blue Marble Next Generation]], a composite of cloud-free satellite images]]
[[File:Blue Marble 2002.png|300px|thumb|NASA's [[The Blue Marble#Subsequent Blue Marble images|Blue Marble Next Generation]], a composite of cloud-free satellite images]]
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 [[map projection|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.<ref name="ACA1988">
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 [[map projection|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.<ref name="ACA1988">{{cite book| title=Choosing a World Map| author=American Cartographic Association's Committee on Map Projections| year=1988| location=Falls Church| publisher=American Congress on Surveying and Mapping| pages=1–2}}</ref>
{{cite book
| title = Choosing a World Map
| author = American Cartographic Association's Committee on Map Projections
| year = 1988
| location = Falls Church
| publisher = American Congress on Surveying and Mapping
| pages = 1–2
}}</ref>


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.
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 [[geography|geographical]] features such as mountains, soil type, or [[land use]]. [[Geological map]]s show not only the surface, but characteristics of the underlying rock, [[Geologic fault|fault]] lines, and subsurface structures. [[Choropleth map]]s use color hue and intensity to contrast differences between regions, such as demographic or economic statistics.
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 [[geography|geographical]] features such as mountains, soil type, or [[land use]]. [[Geological map]]s show not only the surface, but characteristics of the underlying rock, [[Geologic fault|fault]] lines, and subsurface structures. [[Choropleth map]]s use color hue and intensity to contrast differences between regions, such as demographic or economic statistics.
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File:Anaximander world map (mul).svg|Hypothetical reconstruction of the world map of [[Anaximander]] (610–546 BC)
File:Anaximander world map (mul).svg|Hypothetical reconstruction of the world map of [[Anaximander]] (610–546 BC)
File:Sphendoné,_hoc_est,_Funda_Posidonii.jpg|World map according to [[Posidonius]] (150–130 BC),<br>drawn in 1628
File:Sphendoné,_hoc_est,_Funda_Posidonii.jpg|World map according to [[Posidonius]] (150–130 BC),<br>drawn in 1628
File:Radkarte MKL1888.png|Ideal reconstruction of medieval [[T and O map|T-and-O maps]] (from ''Meyers Konversationslexikon'', 1895)<br>(Asia shown on the right)
File:Radkarte MKL Bd. 5 1890 (128672427).jpg|Ideal reconstruction of medieval [[T and O map|T-and-O maps]] (from ''Meyers Konversationslexikon'', 1890)<br>(Asia shown on the right)
File:TabulaRogeriana.jpg|{{Lang|la|[[Tabula Rogeriana]]}} world map by [[Muhammad al-Idrisi]] in 1154<br>north is to the bottom
File:TabulaRogeriana.jpg|{{Lang|la|[[Tabula Rogeriana]]}} world map by [[Muhammad al-Idrisi]] in 1154<br>north is to the bottom
File:Cantino planisphere (1502).jpg|''[[Cantino planisphere]]'': Portuguese world map from 1502
File:Cantino planisphere (1502).jpg|''[[Cantino planisphere]]'': Portuguese world map from 1502

Latest revision as of 17:31, 16 November 2025

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File:Equal-Earth-Physical-No-Type (cropped).jpg
A world map showing countries and continents at their true sizes relative to each other
File:Blue Marble 2002.png
NASA's Blue Marble Next Generation, a composite of cloud-free satellite images

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.[1]

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.

Map projections

Script error: No such module "labelled list hatnote". Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". 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.

Thematic maps

Script error: No such module "labelled list hatnote". 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".[2]

Historical maps

Script error: No such module "labelled list hatnote". 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.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Thematic Maps Template:Webarchive Map Collection & Cartographic Information Services Unit. University Library, University of Washington. Accessed 27 December 2009.
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Further reading

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