General History
Maps have an exciting history of their own. Over time, they evolved from being rough sketches, often based on travellers' tales and stories passed on through word of mouth that may or may not have been true.Nowadays maps are accurate scientific instruments Their development runs in parallel with the development of civilisation.
Clay Tablet Map c.14th Century BC
A clay tablet which dates from the 14th or 13th century BC. The map shows the countryside around a city called Nippur. Nippur no longer exists but was located in what is now known as Iraq.
© University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and AnthropologyClay Tablet Map c.14th Century BC
A clay tablet which dates from the 14th or 13th century BC. The map shows the countryside around a city called Nippur. Nippur no longer exists but was located in what is now known as Iraq.
© University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and AnthropologyEarly Maps
Early attempts at creating maps were extremely limited by a lack of knowledge of areas other than very local surroundings of the map makers.
The earliest known maps are from Babylon (in modern Iraq), where they were produced on clay tablets. These date from about 2500 BC.
The Turin Papyrus is an Ancient Egyptian map. it dates from around 1200 BC. It was created for Ramses IV, an Egyptian king.
Like the kings who had gone before him, Ramses IV had ambitious plans to build great temples and statues.
The map was created as a guide to the area where the huge stones used to build the temples and statues were quarried. Click on the image to get a closer look.
The Turin Papyrus is an Ancient Egyptian map. it dates from around 1200 BC. It was created for Ramses IV, an Egyptian king. Like the kings who had gone before him, Ramses IV had ambitious plans to build great temples and statues. The map was created as a guide to the area where the huge stones used to build the temples and statues were quarried.