World map
A map of most or all of Earth's surface.
A world map is a map of most or all of the surface of Earth. Because of their scale, world maps must deal with the problem of projection, as rendering the three-dimensional Earth in two dimensions necessarily distorts geographic features, distances, and directions. These distortions reach extremes in world maps, and many techniques have been developed to balance accuracy and unavoidable distortion. Charting a world map requires global knowledge of the Earth, its oceans, and its continents. For much of human history, from prehistory through the Middle Ages, creating an accurate world map was impossible because less than half of Earth’s coastlines and only a small fraction of its continental interiors were known to any single culture. Knowledge of the Earth’s surface accumulated rapidly with exploration beginning during the European Renaissance, so that most of the world’s coastlines had been mapped, at least roughly, by the mid-1700s, and the continental interiors by the twentieth century. World maps generally focus either on political features, such as territorial boundaries and human settlement, or on physical features like mountains, soil type, or land use. Geological maps show surface characteristics as well as underlying rock, fault lines, and subsurface structures. Choropleth maps use color hue and intensity to contrast differences between regions, such as demographic or economic statistics. All world maps are based on map projections, methods of representing a globe on a plane. The Mercator Projection, originally designed as a nautical chart, is perhaps the best-known. Thematic maps focus on one or a few subjects, portraying physical, social, political, cultural, economic, sociological, or agricultural aspects. Historical maps, from the Iron Age through the early modern period, reveal past knowledge and the philosophical and cultural basis of cartography, serving as a means for scientists to distribute ideas to future generations.
- field
- Cartography
- known_for
- Representing most or all of Earth's surface on a plane, with projections that distort geographic features
- key_challenge
- Dealing with projection distortion inherent in mapping a sphere onto a flat surface
Lore & Background
World maps depict most or all of Earth’s surface and, due to their scale, must address the challenge of projection. When rendered in two dimensions, they necessarily distort the representation of the three-dimensional globe, with these distortions reaching extremes in a world map. Numerous techniques have been developed to balance accuracy and unavoidable distortion, serving diverse technical and aesthetic goals. The best-known projection is the Mercator Projection, originally designed for nautical charts. World maps generally focus on political features, emphasizing territorial boundaries and human settlement, or physical features, showing geographical elements such as mountains, soil type, or land use. Geological maps display not only the surface but also underlying rock characteristics, fault lines, and subsurface structures. Choropleth maps use color hue and intensity to contrast differences between regions, such as demographic or economic statistics. Thematic maps portray a focused subject—physical, social, political, cultural, economic, or agricultural—within a city, state, region, nation, or continent. Historical maps, from the Iron Age through the Age of Discovery and early modern period, provide information about known places and the philosophical and cultural basis of cartography, often differing greatly from modern maps. These maps serve as a means for scientists to distribute ideas and pass them to future generations.
Reader's Guide
World maps generally focus either on political features, such as territorial boundaries and human settlement, or on physical features like mountains, soil type, or land use. Geological maps show not only the surface but also underlying rock, fault lines, and subsurface structures. Choropleth maps use color hue and intensity to contrast differences between regions, such as demographic or economic statistics. All world maps are based on one of several map projections, each distorting geographic features, distances, and directions in some way. The Mercator Projection, originally designed as a nautical chart, is perhaps the best-known projection. Thematic maps portray a focused subject, such as physical, social, political, cultural, economic, or agricultural aspects of a region. Early world maps cover depictions from the Iron Age to the Age of Discovery and the emergence of modern geography, providing information about past known places and the philosophical and cultural basis of the map. Maps are one means by which scientists distribute ideas and pass them on to future generations.
Did You Know?
- World maps must deal with the problem of projection because rendering a three-dimensional surface in two dimensions necessarily distorts it.
- By the mid-1700s, most of the world's coastlines had been mapped, at least roughly.
- The Mercator Projection, originally designed as a nautical chart, is perhaps the best-known map projection.
- Choropleth maps use color hue and intensity to contrast differences between regions, such as demographic or economic statistics.
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