World map

Geographical-political world map: structures of the earth's surface and the sea floor are shown, as well as the states of the earth (as of 2005)

A world map is a map that depicts the entire surface of the earth . The map base can consist of survey drawings, but also satellite or aerial photographs . The latter are usually composed of individual images in such a way that no atmospheric disturbances such as clouds can be seen.

properties

Satellite map of the world in Winkel-Tripel projection

Vertical section at the prime meridian

With world maps, the question of projection is the most serious, since a complete spherical surface has to be projected onto a plane . The distortions at the map edges have a stronger effect than with small-scale maps. For this reason there are very many different map network designs for world maps, which are used depending on the application. For general illustration purposes, a projection compromise is usually used that does not distort either surfaces or angles too much (e.g. the Robinson and the Winkel-Tripel projection ).

As is common with maps today, world maps are also oriented to the north. The upper and lower edges are usually set at the north and south poles. This convention comes from Europe and from the time when the continents of Australia and Antarctica were unknown there. Modern responses to this are south-facing alternative maps, such as the 1979 Universal Corrective Map of the World by Australian Stuart McArthur .

The horizontal centering is done differently and mostly in such a way that the application region of the card is roughly in the middle. Since the necessary vertical section should not run through land areas, two map centers are common nowadays: one is the cut through the Pacific , the other through the Atlantic .

The alternative to the world map is the globe , which can show the earth's surface undistorted. Compared to it, the map has the disadvantage that it always violates at least one of the properties of length , area or angle . Its advantage is that it can provide a complete view of the surface of the earth. In addition, planar representations can be better used in media, whether on paper for atlases and posters or on screens.

Application and meaning

Political world map of all states

Climate zones of the earth

Like all maps, world maps also have different functions. Their primary orientation, of this magnitude, plays an important role in sea , aerospace and space travel , while street maps , for example, are usually smaller. The most common types of maps are the physical map , which shows natural conditions such as mountains and water , the political map , the state borders and cities , as well as the combination of these, the general geographic map .

In addition, a world map can be used to display any data collected worldwide or to depict large-scale distributions, relationships or cycles.

World maps also have a symbolic meaning. They reflect the totality of the earth's population , symbolize the distribution of peoples and states. On the other hand, they show the “blue planet” earth , depict the entire biosphere and can thus stand for nature .

Global ocean currents
Telephone area codes by state
Human Development Index by State
UN flag with equidistant azimuthal projection

history

The table lists early world maps that claimed to depict the entire known world. It extends to the first map that depicts the New World after America was discovered .

title	Year (approx.)	Author / client	Country / Region (today)	The oldest surviving tradition
Babylonian worldview	600 BC Chr.		Iraq, Babylon	600 BC Chr.
Orbis Terrarum (Agrippa)	1	Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Tabula Peutingeriana	375			1150
World map of the cosmos of Indicopleustes	550	Kosmas Indicopleustes	Egypt, Alexandria	550
Hereford card	1290	Richard of Haldingham and Lafford (now Holdingham and Sleaford), known as Richard de Bello	England, Hereford	1290
Ebstorf world map	1300	?	Germany, Ebstorf	1891
Kangnido / Honil Gangni Yeokdae Gukdo Ji Do	1402		Korea
De Virga world map	1411			1911
World map by Andreas Walsperger	1448			1448
Genoese world map	1457
Fra Mauros world map	1459
World map by Alberto Cantino	1502
Martin Waldseemüller	1507