Point of Maps

So today in class we went over some historical maps and how maps have changed and become more accurate over the years. The Earliest maps were reference tools, simple navigation devices to show a traveler how to get from point A to B. First World map was prepared by Eratosthenes (276-194 BC). Improvements were later made by Ptolemy. After Ptolemy advances in mapping were mainly made outside Europe in China and the Middle East. Contemporary mapping, shifting from simply a tool that provides location reference to a tool used by geographers to communicate geographic phenomena. Map scale is presented in three different ways; Ratio/Fraction, Written Scale, and Graphic Scale. Projection: Scientific method of transferring locations on Earth's surface to a flat map. Earth's spherical shape causes distortion when drawing it on a flat piece of paper. Four types of distortion: Shape of an area, distance between points may be increased or decreased, relative size, and direction. Geographic grid is a system of imaginary arcs in a grid pattern on Earth's surface. Meridians are arcs drawn between North and South poles. Parallels are arcs drawn parallel to the equator at right angles to meridians. East to West. Each is numbered according to the latitude system. Points on Earth's surface can be communicated using lines of longitude and latitude. Earth is a sphere divided into 360 degrees of longitude. Divide 360 by 24 hours to create time zones 15 degrees apart. GMT, Greenwich Mean Time, is located at prime meridian and is the master reference time for all points on Earth.