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Whenever this topic comes up there seems to be a little confusion about both
the history and the status quo.
It is not uncommon even now for large-scale maps to have any orientation
whatever, depending on the topography or how the locals tend to view their
space. Orientations other than north-up are not exotic now and never have been.
Smaller scale maps these days are nearly always north-up by convention. In the
past, whether a small-scale map would be designed as north-up depended on many
factors. Some maps have no fixed orientation. For example, the Japanese were in
the habit of constructing large-sized maps with text oriented toward the
nearest edge for the convenience of the person sitting closest to that text.
World maps have a straightforward explanation: Ptolemy oriented his maps with
north to the top. European mapmakers based their first printed world maps on
Ptolemy’s. Ptolemy’s maps were more than just maps; they intended to give the
reader a sense of the sphericity of the earth as well, including the rotational
axis. Hence one of the poles should be at the top. Given that he knew very
little of the southern hemisphere, north-up seems obvious.
Because world maps constructed by Europeans almost always showed north at the
top, larger-scale maps gradually followed suit except when there was some
reason not to.
Hence when discussing old maps, the first question to ask is whether the map
covers a large territory. If it does not, then the question of why it is not
north-up can generally has a more mundane answer than anything symbolic.
Usually it has to do with local considerations of terrain, coastline, human
activities, even sheet proportions. If, on the other hand, it covers a
territory across with earth’s curvature is significant, then there could be
some symbolic reason for the orientation.
Regards,
— daan Strebe
-----Original Message-----
From: hills...@aol.com
To: maphist@geo.uu.nl
Sent: Tue, May 24, 2011 8:35 am
Subject: Re: [MapHist] London Map Fair...confusing newspaper publicity...south
at top
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Interesting link - the low % to the east in the first period intrigues me, I
thought the dominance of the Christian religion, with Jerusalem to the 'east',
would mean more Mediaeval maps with east at the top. Has anyone explored the
sociological reasons for the shift to the north by 1600 - perhaps no
coincidence that this was the time of the Reformation, the break between
England and Rome. Of course north then put Europe on top - although if
confident English adventurers /colonisers wanted their country on top, west at
top might have been a good choice.
Dr Hillary Shaw
School of Business, Management and Marketing
Harper Adams University College
Newport
Shropshire
TF10 8NB
-----Original Message-----
From: Joel Kovarsky <j...@theprimemeridian.com>
To: Discussion group for map history <maphist@geo.uu.nl>
Sent: Tue, 24 May 2011 16:00
Subject: Re: [MapHist] London Map Fair...confusing newspaper publicity...south
at top
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The whole issue of "south at the top" has previously appeared on
Maphist (http://mailman.geo.uu.nl/pipermail/maphist/2002-April/000449.html),
in that case referencing English manuscript maps from 1150-1500.
Joel Kovarsky
On 5/24/2011 10:29 AM, monet...@aol.com wrote:
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Good point, thanks. And of course that explains why for some there is
a slight halt when we hear that "Upper" Egypt is in the South.
In a message dated 5/23/2011 8:09:47 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
wjwarre...@yahoo.com writes:
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Unless water runs uphill one would expect all early Egyptian
maps to have south to the top of the map as a natural
consequence of the Nile's flow. Recent research has shown that
the average American thinks it is much easier to travel south
since it is downhill on all of our maps. Francis' point was,
as we all know, journalists are generally ill-equipped to
comment on early cartography, no matter what their
nationality.
Bill
Bill Warren
1109 Linda Glen Drive
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 792-9152
wjwarre...@yahoo.com
From: "monet...@aol.com" <monet...@aol.com>
To: maphist@geo.uu.nl
Sent: Mon, May 23, 2011 3:19:20 PM
Subject: Re: [MapHist] London Map
Fair, 11 & 12 June: confusing newspaper publicity
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You remind me of a long-filed-away question:
Years back I read the Ancient Egyptians used maps with
South at top. This may have been based on the famed
Turin Map Papyrus, but it would seem strange to assert
or accept a generalization based on one sample. Anyone
know of more on this topic?
David Suter
Artist
<O>
In a message dated 5/23/2011 4:30:09 P.M. Eastern
Daylight Time, francis443herb...@btinternet.com writes:
As some will know, or remember, the Fra Mauro
manuscript was drawn with south at top;
and, as such, this is how it ought to
have been reproduced. If only to test
the interpretative skills of the ‘average’
reader; or even to dramatically put across the
message that not all western European maps were
north-oriented. An opportunity lost to
leisurely and graphically educate some
readers (and potential converts to
collecting
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The Prime Meridian
1839 Clay Dr., Crozet, VA 22932 USA
Phone: 434-823-5696
Email: t...@theprimemeridian.com
Website: http://www.theprimemeridian.com
_______________________________________________
MapHist: E-mail discussion group on the history of cartography
hosted by the Faculty of Geosciences, University of Utrecht.
The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of
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The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of
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