Richard of Haldingham’s Mappa-Mundi, the 1300s In addition, this was the first map to show Africa in a significant light and to focus more on geographical details than religious allegory. This was done because many Muslims lived north of Mecca and believed the south was the correct direction in which to pray. In contrast to the Christian world maps of this time period, Al-Idrisi put the south of the world on top - a trend consistent in Muslim mapmaking. Under the direction of King Roger II, he created a map that blended Islamic, Jewish and Christian traditions. Al-Idrisi’s World Map, 1154Īfter the fall of the Roman Empire, Muslim scholar Al-Sharif al-Idrisi saw a unique opportunity to redraw and unite the world. Ptolemy's map astonishingly depicted over 8,000 locations in Europe, Asia and Africa, making it one of the most detailed maps of its time, and one that encouraged others to see the world in new ways. He was also the first to size countries based on actual calculations, instead of their importance in the world. Using rectangular and intersecting lines, he introduced the concept of longitude and latitude that we still use today. Often referred to as the “father of geography,” Claudius Ptolemy was the first person to combine math, science and written words to plot areas around the world. The map was designed to encourage exploration and trade, to help unify the people of Greece, and to provide a building block for future cartographers. Greek philosopher Anaximander may not win points for details, but his map - one of the first known maps in the world, if not the first - provides valuable insight into how people viewed our planet in ancient times. From the 6th century BC to today, follow along as we chart their captivating and dramatic history - beginning with the map that started it all. Over the centuries, maps have influenced governments, spread propaganda and sparked heated controversies. No, we’re not still talking about “Game of Thrones.' We’re talking about a subject even more dramatic: maps. From the 6th century to today, maps have shaped our world in powerful ways.

The map that changed the world