Maps
For thousands of years people have made maps to illustrate the relative position of places on Earth. In the 2nd century AD, astronomer Ptolemy laid out a system of latitudes and longitudes to plot precise coordinates of places on the globe. Since then, maps have assumed many different forms throughout the centuries. There's such a wealth of information to represent on maps, so mapmakers are selective of what they choose to emphasize. Some examples of various types are topographical, population, and road maps. Maps are powerful tools that continue to expand our view of the known world.
