Colorful Humanistic History - The History of Maps

Author: [British] Jeremy Black
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: "What is a map? Is it a true representation of the objective world? The answer is both yes and no. While we marvel at the meticulousness and accuracy of today's maps, let's not forget that for a long time, they were not entirely products of scientific observation. Like astronomy originating from astrology and chemistry from alchemy, maps actually originated from non-scientific fields such as religion, mythology, and aesthetics.
Maps can be understood as products of some kind of "human predicament": nature exists inherently and perfectly, but human knowledge can only gradually approach it later; the world is infinite, yet as its observers and measurers, humans are inevitably constrained by the limitations of their physical bodies; the Earth is originally round, but when it is drawn by people, it becomes flat. These irreconcilable natural differences are destined to make the history of human mapmaking filled with naivety, absurdity, discovery and speculation, perseverance, and a spirit of adventure. Maps were born in ancient times, but the history of them becoming a strict scientific product and a reliable practical tool only spans a few hundred years, and this transformation process is filled with interest, strangeness, ups and downs, and drama. In ancient times, although there were also motivations to reveal the truth of the world, maps primarily carried human emotions and imagination.
Facing ancient Indian maps that depict the land as a lotus flower or ancient Chinese maps that place their own country at the center of the world, people naturally do not read objective reality, but rather some beliefs or certain hobbies. Therefore, the connotations of maps are far richer than people imagine. The achievements of ancient cartographers reflect the blending of multiple human knowledge systems—such as mythology, religion, aesthetics, beliefs, and a self-centered worldview. The history of maps condenses humanity's misunderstandings, imaginations, beliefs, and the interplay and mixture of cognitive abilities about the world, proving that our correct understanding of our living environment comes slowly and tortuously, and is often absurd.