The following notes have been summarized from several sources, notable E.D. Baldock's Milestones of Mapping (on reserve in the GIC).  In addition, many texts cover aspects of the history of cartography. References which do discuss the history of cartography include Greenwood (1964), Hodgkiss (1975 & 1986), Robinson et al., and several periodicals such as Cartographica 17(4): Concepts in the history of cartography.

Some of the important dates in the history of cartography include:

5000 BC --- the earliest maps engraved on stone; a graphic representation of a neolithic village carved on a rock in northern Italy.

ca 2300 BC --- the Babylonians make several advances:

detailed estate maps

regional maps

`world' maps

sexagesimal system (360 / 60' / 60")

astrology a dominant religion

The Babylonian maps were most likely drawn on clay tablets, possibly on animal skins.

1320 BC --- Egyptians developed accurate systems of land surveys, record maps on papyrus

500 BC onwards --- Greeks develop the foundation of modern cartography earth as a sphere, not flat, with poles, equator develop concept of latitude and longitude calculate earth's circumference (Eratosthenes, 2nd century BC, arrived at a figure of 25,000 miles; Strabo arrived at an incorrect figure of 18,000 miles)

ca 150 AD --- Ptolemy compiles Geographia, a book / map which summarized all geographic knowledge of the time, and more

parchment used as a draughting media; made from the skins of sheep or calves

500 BC onwards --- Romans develop many military maps, based on the flat-earth concept.

600--1100 AD --- Arab empires advances in surveying and astronomy, general improvements in cartography

Dark ages in Europe, cartography very much dominated by religion (using Roman maps)

1400 onwards --- Europe enters Renaissance period

rediscovery of Ptolemy's Geographia

printing presses developed (known in China 6 centuries previously!)

rag-based paper developed (known in China around 150 AD!)

age of the navigators such as Columbus, Cabot and Magellan

1650 onward --- the end of speculative cartography, and the development of mapping as we now know it

20th century --- cartography changes more rapidly than any comparable period previously. Developments include:

invention of photogrammetry

EDM & GPS

computer-assisted cartography

Geographic Information Systems

widespread use of thematic maps

Some notable names in cartography are:

Mercator 1512--94, produces first `Atlas', develops projections

Ortelius 1527--98, produces standard sized map portfolios

French Academy of Sciences, 2nd half of 17th century, develops metric system, measures radii of earth

Cassini family, 1744 onward, compile first national map series (of France) based on accurate ground surveys