In reviewing the basic principles of the art and science of cartography,
you should think about the "big picture" including the historical
perspective, the social context, and the technological transitions. You
should always keep in mind that maps are created for some use. A
relatively good way to track down "developments" is to look at standards
(i.e., map standards, such as topographic products, or geological maps,
or census maps). Another way to look at it in a naive, yet robust way, is
to envision how people usually attempt to solve mapping problems. It is
obvious that not all scientific criteria can be met all at once. Yet,
they should be known.
HISTORY OF SOCIETY
recording the "oikumene"
register (for taxation etc.)
support overviews (curiosity, science, religion)
examples:
Babilon, Egypt, Greece
Middle Ages
Renessaince
Industrial revolution
Going digital...
REPRESENTATION
knowledge (verbal, mathematical, graphical means of communication)
location of individual elements
broader overview of patterns
CHARACTERISTICS OF MAPS
location and attributes
relationships
among locations (distances)
among attributes (temperature vs. vegetation)
between locations and attributes (coal production distribution)
between derived (combined) attributes (per capita income)
scale
(see Lewis Caroll's Alice ... for a discussion about 1:1
maps)