Map Questions

Reading guide: “Where Am I? Mapping a New World” Directions: Read the article, “Where am I? Mapping a New World” and answer the following questions. “THE SCIENCE OF CARTOGRAPHY” 1. Why is it so difficult to make a map that shows accurate distances and shapes of regions? The earth is round and a paper is flat. So you can’t show the spherical surface of the earth on a flat map while preserving key info about it. 2. Who developed the first map using lines of latitude and longitude? A Greek mathematician named Ptolemy. 3. Look at the map in the left sidebar of the article. Why do you think the map was created with Jerusalem in the center? Maybe because they didn’t explore enough to know what was there or based on their beliefs. 4. The article states, “Only when Europeans discovered the Americas and wanted to exploit the wealth of the new lands did they find a need to treat mapmaking more scientifically.” Give an example that explains this statement? They had prove instead of basing it off of beliefs. 5. Why was it so difficult for cartographers to draw maps during the Age of Exploration? It was difficult because they couldn’t determine direction or longitude and latitude. “FINDING A WAY ON THE SEAS” 1. What were the major difficulties in trying to navigate in the open seas before the modern era? They did not know what direction they were going and since they had no navigation they had to stay close to shore. 2. Would you have been willing to make the trip from Europe to the New World during the Age of Exploration? Why or why not? Yes because I would want to explore and find new land. 3. How did technology help to solve many of these problems? Technology helped them navigate where they were going. Before they weren’t able to determine direction but now they can. “EXPLORING AND EXPLAINING NEW LANDS” 1. As you read the journal from the first Columbus voyage, think about the ways that Columbus and his sailors determined that they were close to land each day. List four specific examples after you have finished the reading? They seen birds, sticks/logs, weeds/plants and pardelas. 2. You will notice that for many of the journal entries the author wrote that even though they had traveled a certain number of leagues, he actually wrote down less. For example: He wrote what they seen and how many leagues. 3. 19 September. Continued on, and sailed, day and night, twenty-five leagues, experiencing a calm. Wrote down twenty-two? Same as last. 4. Why do you think he believed that was necessary? So that he wouldn’t forget what they seen, they spent so long on the voyage, everyday they might see something new. 5. How do you think the explorers estimated the daily mileage that they traveled on foot? Maybe they counted there steps or used there steps to indicate it. “IMAGINING AMERICA” 1. Look at the Waldeesmuller’s map and read the information about it. List four areas of the world that he obviously knew about. Then list three areas that he drew incorrectly? They knew about Europe, Middle East, Africa and Florida. He drew incorrectly the rest of America, Southeast Asia, Islands of Indonesia. 2. Even after discovering the Americas, why were the Europeans so anxious to find an easier route to Asia? To get there fast for trade and other reasons. 3. How did it happen that Giovanni da Verrazano saw the Pamlico Sound and believed it was the Pacific Ocean? He thought the water on the other side was open ocean because it was between the west and north. 4. By the time Verrazano was looking at the Pamlico, the survivors of the Magellan voyage were back in Europe. Why do you think the “Sea of Verrazano” was still drawn on maps even though the Magellan voyage had proven how large the earth is? Maybe because they didn’t know the Magellan were there. 5. Why is the true “Northwest Passage” too difficult to prove useful? Navigating it was hard and there were icebergs. “THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME” 1. What technological advances have made it possible to determine locations very accurately? We have accurate maps, internet, google maps and other navigation systems to help us.