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Explore the significance of maps in organizing societies and understanding our world. This unit covers the definition and uses of maps, their historical invention, the information they convey, and their inherent limitations. We delve into the intriguing history of the Catalan Atlas, which challenged conventional map-making by leaving unknown territories blank and labeling them as Terra Incognita. This practice not only reflects the era's understanding but also invites conversations about what is known and unknown in our quest for knowledge. Join us in unraveling the complexities of maps in history and geography.
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Unit 3: How are societies Organised? Maps and map-making
“The Catalan Atlas was the definitive map of its time… but perhaps the atlas’ most important contribution was what it left out. On other maps, unknown northern and southern regions were included as places of myth, of monsters, anthropology and sea serpents. But the truth-seeking, fact-finding Catalan Atlas instead left unknown parts of the earth blank. This blankness was labeled simply and frighteningly Terra Incognita, challenging every mariner who unfurled the chart. Maps of history have always been less honest…
…Terra Cognita and Terra Incognita inhabit exactly the same coordinates of time and space. The closest we come to knowing the location of what’s unknown is when it melts though the map like a watermark, a stain, as transparent as a drop of rain. On the map of history, perhaps the water stain is memory…”
