This one seems fairly simple, at least. A map is something
that shows us where things are – the physical locations of things. But what
about mind maps? They show us things that aren’t actual objects, and don’t have
a geographical location, so are they maps?
The International Cartographic Association defines a map as
a symbolised image of geographic reality, designed for use when spatial
relationships are of special relevance.
So a map must:
- show what is actually there in the world
- show how things relate to each other in space
But, a quick look at well-known maps in current usage shows
this is not true. Take the London Tube Map – whilst the spatial relationships
are accurate, the map as a whole does not represent the geographical reality
of London “above”[1],
and it would be difficult to use a tube map to navigate the streets of
London. Does that prevent it from being a map?
The key to understanding what makes a map lies further back
in history.
A wall painting at Çatal Hüyük[2]
The above rock art is believed to show the town of Çatal
Hüyük, with the now-dormant local volcano Hasan Dag depicted at the top. We can
call this a map because it depicts a spatial relationship that would have been useful to the inhabitants of the town at
that time – it depicts where the local threat of a volcano existed in reference
to their town. This is what maps are – the transfer of useful knowledge about
events in space.
What is useful? Despite its modern popularity, the phrase
“Here be dragons” has appeared on only one historical map – that of the Lenox
Globe (c. 1510), in the Latin form “hic sunt dracones”. This phrase is believed
to refer to the tribe of Dagroian people, rather than actual dragons, although
the geographical location is wrong. So were these “dragons” people, dangerous
beasts, or unchartered territory? With each, maybe the phrase just serves as a
warning to take care.
The Lenox Globe [3]
A map must be meaningful, but more than that, it must be
meaningful to the people who used it. So any “map” from the depths of history
may well not make sense to us in modern times. This shift in perception is
noticeable even in modern maps – Ordnance Survey maps mark the positions of
telephone boxes, but when was the last time you used one? Are they merely there
now as useful navigation tools? How many people are really using paper maps
nowadays?
I, for one, love paper maps, and would rather trust one (and
a compass), than a mapping app on my phone, purely because so many things can
go wrong with a phone (loss of signal, battery life), but the paper map will
still work. Equally, as a GIS[4]-user,
I’m a big fan of creating digital maps, and recognise that these two approaches
have different uses. GIS can be used to map thing such as inter-visibility between
hilltop sites (hillforts, yay!), or the direction that rain will drain across a
landscape. Whilst these operations are not impossible on paper (I wouldn’t
fancy trying them), in practical terms, a GI-system is much easier and much
more accessible.
So, in conclusion, I would say that maps show us topography
– whether this is the topography of a landscape, of a mind, or of perception. A
map is useful - it shows us things we might need to know. And maybe the
dragons are all just hiding – if they let themselves be mapped people might try
to kill them, after all.
[1] In talking about London Above, it is
always important to remember Neil Gaiman, who in Neverwhere, created a whole
second London "Below" - a reality based on the London tube system (so there really is
an Angel in Islington…). Brilliant book.
[2] Reproduced from Delano-Smith,
1982 - The Emergence of “Maps” in European Rock Art: A Prehistoric
Preoccupation with Place, in Imago Mundi,
vol. 34, p9–25.
[3] Held in the New York Public library, image from http://exhibitions.nypl.org/treasures/items/show/163
[4] Geographic Information System or Science
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