What is the Meaning & Definition of map Mundi

The term that we analyze presents a dual graph, map mundi or world map, and is the image or geographical representation of planet Earth. A map of the world provides global information of great utility. On the one hand, it provides an image altogether over continents and Nations. Secondly, this mapping provides useful information to understand the planet in its entirety: its division into two hemispheres, its RADIUS and diameter, terrestrial and aquatic surface, time zones

Brief history of the world map

In the ancient world maps were produced from observations of boaters and currently satellites provide an accurate picture about the Earth. This evolution has been slow and complex. The Babylonians were the first world map 2500 years ago about a few clay tablets. In the century ll a. C Chinese culture also produced maps. In one case, it was of representations for easy navigation and presented a limited of all of the Earth image. The Greeks and, more specifically, the geographer Eratosthenes, already contributed a more elaborate picture of the world known at that time. The interest in science and geography declined significantly during the middle ages, an era in which the great thinkers preferably dealt with spiritual matters. However, Arab and Mallorcan cartographers of the century XII and Xlll made some advances in cartography. With the discovery of the American continent and the knowledge of new trade routes became needed to advance in the preparation of maps. In this context, a series of global cartographic documents, were made in the 16th century the first world map. The first modern atlas, the famous cartographer Abraham Ortelius Orbis Terrarum was printed at the end of the century XVl.

The Mercator world map

There is a technical aspect of great historical importance in the evolution of the world map as geographical representation: the development of the map of Gerardus Mercator. In the last years of the 16th century Flemish cartographer Mercator devised the world map we know today (it maintains its fundamental idea but obviously is it has improved over time). The main feature of the Mercator map is the faithfulness of the shapes of the continents but a disproportion between their sizes. In other words, presenting the map mundi and the geographical reality of the planet is quite uneven. This distortion has remained to the present day, and there is some controversy in this regard. To reveal the controversy it is worth recalling some of the most significant inaccuracies: the image of Africa has a smaller size which corresponds, the island of Madagascar seems as large as the United Kingdom, when in fact has twice the surface and both Europe and North America should appear more to the North. The examples listed above underscore a reality: our image of the world and reality do not coincide. For this reason, there are a number of cartographers and geography specialist who advocate a reform of the traditional world map.