history of geospatial data

dufour’s 1865 maps

topo map of switzerland with ridges to indicate mountains and valleys

state cartography began with

Cassini map of france, other countries caught up

internationalizing cartography

attempts to convene countries and create a standard world map, hampered by the world wars

advent of thematic maps in

19th century; proportion of school attendance, descriptive map of London's poverty

aerial imagery emerged in

20th century; first hot air balloons, then espionage airplanes; unregulated

geoweb

merging geospatial information with the Internet and related info e.g. finding restaurants on Google Maps

antiquity

surveying foundations, ptolemaic geography, mapping of census data and road maps

middle ages

not much is known, reversion to T-O maps with religious elements

ebstorf world map

13th century, more detailed T-O map with Crusades’ knowledge

outside of europe in middle ages

islamic golden age, song dynasty printed maps

transition to modern cartography during

renaissance; knowledge came back, trade networks, transformation in use and distribution of maps

portolan

a book of harbors and landmarks, jotted as text for sailors, evolution into more comprehensive maps

creation of new maps and overcoming previously limited knowledge came from

rediscovery of ptolemy's texts on how to draw maps

mercator projection

first true angle projection, lines could be traced between places to navigate

prime meridians used to be

country-specific, eventually established to be in London