Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER ONE
EARLY MAPS
Maps from earlier times are different from the kind of maps we are familiar with today. In
this chapter we explore a selection that illustrates the diversity of maps from the 15th century
to the 17th century, and some of the reasons why they were made. Most of these maps were
manuscript, drawn before more standardised printed maps became common. They are of ten
colourful and provide highly individual views of places, buildings, plant life and coastlines,
before the genre of British landscape painting had begun. Sometimes mapmakers tried to show
hypothetical places such as a posited southern continent of the same size as the Arctic, and the
map
The theatre of the sky and earth
even shows the outer edges of the heavens.
Maps gradually became accepted as a useful and attractive way to present viewpoints,
knowledge and information. The oldest maps in the archives date from the 14th century, but
maps were relatively rare until the 16th century. The archives holds seven maps and one chart
dated before 1500. Two of these maps are included in this chapter, showing medieval land-
scapes in Surrey and Yorkshire. The number of maps produced increases to about 75 for 1500
-1550, doubled for 1550 -1580, and with perhaps 200 further maps for 1580 -1600 when
mapmaking became more widespread.
Why did people start making and using maps? From the early 16th century maps began to
be increasingly appreciated and used for diplomacy, defence and government administration.
Map use in law courts was encouraged after a map affected the verdict in a case in 1515. In-
fluential individuals such as the statesman Lord Burghley saw the importance of maps and
helped to make them common currency at the court of Elizabeth I. The visual nature of maps
was especially helpful in conveying information about far-off places, when planning military
campaigns abroad, colonising, and for an over view of foreign states, especially those which
were likely to be a threat to England. See, for instance, the French administrative map
Around
Early maps were usually made for a specific purpose, by hand, when needed. They dealt
with a particular issue where multiple copies were not required, or with secret matters such
as defence where they were for the eyes of the ruling elite alone. What is shown is selective,
chosen to reflect a map's purpose. The Knaresborough Castle plan (
Beast on the battlements
)
,
drawn to show its defensive state, reveals little of its surroundings, while we might wish that
the map of Cheam's common fields (
In the shadow of a long-lost palace
)
could show more of
