Curious maps

This special e-Atlas shows a series of (100) curious maps which have been made through the history of cartography. From early classical maps to contemporary computer images. Mostly they were the result of the (lack of) information available to the author drawing the map. In the past the only source for cartographers was oral and written information from merchants, seamen, explorers etc. Copying maps of (foreign) colleague cartographers, including their errors, was very common.

Leo Belgicus (Visscher, 1645)
Front page e-Atlas 

The maps (Part IV) are grouped according to their characteristics. From the very first hand-drawn world maps, via 16th/17th century atlas maps (Golden Age of Cartography), to contemporary computer-generated (thematic) images. Within a group they are arranged chronologically. The series includes the following groups (themes): 

1) Geocentric worldview
2-4) Classical Greek maps
5) Roman road maps
6-8) T-O maps
9-16) Earliest maps British Isles
17-19) (Italian) Portolan charts
20) Fake map
21-28) Curious world maps
29-39) German woodcut maps
40-42) Monster maps
43-53) Pictorial maps
54-56) Dutch Holy Land maps
57-62) Fictional maps
63-65) Unfinished maps
66-80) Satirical maps
81-83) War maps
84-87) First thematic maps
88-90) Alternative map projections
91-93) Satellite images
94-99) Web maps
100) Future maps

 

Theatre of 100 Curious Maps: 
from classical maps to computer images 
(20BC - 2020AD)

NOTE: A high-resolution version (PDF file) of the above e-atlas is also available for free,
by contacting the blogger. 


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