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Old Babylon to Ancient Greece: Which ancient civilizations created the earliest maps?
Maps, as one of the most basic navigation tools for mankind, have existed since ancient times. From the way we view the Earth's surface to the creation of embodied spatial relationships, it has undoubtedly played a key role throughout human history. Exploring how ancient civilizations created the earliest maps can help us understand how humans shaped and made sense of their world.
Map of ancient Babylon
In the Babylonian era, early maps were mainly made from clay tablets, which recorded cities, geographical features and human activities. These simple maps were not only used for navigation, but also displayed human thinking and understanding of the world at that time. Especially around 600 BC, Babylonian maps describe a flat world to us and mark different towns and rivers, which all reflect the geographical knowledge of the time.
We can see from these ancient clay tablet maps that the connection between all things is not only geographical, but also a product of social culture.
Map of ancient Egypt
The ancient Egyptian civilization also made significant contributions to map production. Their maps detail the Nile basin and surrounding terrain, which was crucial to the largely agricultural society of the time. Through the maps of ancient Egypt, we can see how people used the natural environment to make a living, and these maps further influenced the way later geographical exploration and recording were done.
Cartography of Ancient Greece
Over time, ancient Greek cartography set new milestones in the development of the world. Due to the Greeks' in-depth exploration of astronomy and geometry, their maps not only included geographical locations, but also introduced coordinate systems and a more detailed understanding of countries and regions. Famous scholars such as Eratosthenes and Ptolemy contributed to cartography, giving us a clearer understanding of the shape and scale of the ancient world.
The maps of ancient Greece marked a major leap in human understanding of the world. From then on, the combination of science and maps will further promote the spread of culture.
Usefulness and changes of maps
From ancient Babylon, ancient Egypt to ancient Greece, the role of maps is not limited to satellite positioning or road guidance, but also a symbol integrated into social culture and history. Map design specifications, marking methods, and scales all evolve with the development of each civilization. These changes not only demonstrate technological progress, but also reflect changes in people's worldview.
Conclusion: Maps as a reflection of human history
Maps are not only records of space, but also the epitome of human understanding of the world. From ancient Babylonian clay tablet maps to ancient Greek geometric figures, the development of maps carries people's perception and exploration of their homes in every era. How will future maps affect our cognition and even the changes in the world? This is still a question worth pondering.
