Funny Nature & Travel Art & Stage Going Viral Science Greetings Inspirational

Edit Profile Recently Viewed Favorites

Main > Nature & Travel > Travel

These Old Maps Show a World We Never Knew Existed

Edited By: Bhavesh B.

Font Size:

A+ A-

Remember unfolding paper maps on road trips or spinning a classroom globe until the teacher made you stop? Maps always held something magical for those of us who love geography. The oldest maps tell us something profound about how our ancestors understood their world. Some placed their capitals at the center, others filled unknown areas with sea monsters, and many got things surprisingly right despite limited tools.

Some are full of mistakes, others feel eerily accurate. But each one says something about how humans made sense of the unknown. If you enjoy history, geography, or just looking at things drawn with care and curiosity, you’ll want to check out these fascinating maps from the past.

Click on images to enlarge

1. Map of the ancient continents, 1719

2. Nautical atlas of the world, circular world map of the Portuguese hemisphere, 1519

3. Ptolemy's world map, designed in 150 AD. For the first time in history, longitudinal and latitudinal lines were added to a world map

4. A map of the celestial globe with comet, 1618

5. The largest medieval map (Hereford Mappa Mundi), 13th century

6. Map of Europe in the form of a queen, engraving and letterpress, 1587

7. World map, 1700

8. Cadastral map showing land ownership in Fushimi, Kyoto, Japan, 1595

9. Map and views illustrating Sir Francis Drake's West Indian Voyage, Santiago, 1586

10. Cosmographical map or universal description of the world with the actual path of the winds, 1570

Related: These Maps Explain the World in Fascinating Ways

11. Description of the Holy Land, 1585

12. Samuel Dunn's map of the world, drawn in 1794 AD. Dunn was the first to present a comprehensive depiction of the globe, utilizing the discoveries made by Captain James Cook as his primary reference

13. Map of the Americas, 1553

14. The Psalter World Map, drawn by an unknown medieval monk in 1260 AD. Maps from this period usually place the east at the top of the globe, symbolizing where the sun rises and where Jesus watches over the world

15. Map of the ancient Roman world from their perspective

16. The Bunting Clover Leaf Map, created by Heinrich Bunting in Germany in 1581, is a Christian map that reflects a religious perspective of the world. This map illustrates the world as an extension of the Christian Trinity, with Jerusalem at its center, serving as the focal point that unites everything.

All images: Izismile

Like Next Post Send Share WhatsApp

Copy Link

Did you mean:

Continue With: Facebook Google

By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy

Report copyright infringement

Print this content

You may also like:

Baba Recommends

These Ancient Inventions Were Far Ahead Of Their Time

16:23

Check Out the Coolest Military Tools of the Ancient World

The ancient world invented some weapons that were far ahead of their time. Here are some of the coolest ones.

Travel

Timeless Treasures: 16 Marvels from Our Ancient Past

The Wonders of Our Ancient World, Revealed in 16 Photos

These fascinating ancient artifacts continue to captivate us today. Artifacts From the Past That Continue to Amaze Us

Baba Recommends

These Are Some of the Most Fascinating Books on History

7 Must-Read Books That Will Get You Interested in History

These interesting history books will make you look at our world and our past from a different perspective.

Baba Recommends

The Kingdom of Kush: The Ancient World's Most Mysterious Civilization

4:35

Uncovering the Mystery of the Lost Kingdom of Kush

The Kingdom of Kush was an ancient civilization, the origins of which remain unknown to the best of historians.

Travel

These Lost Cities Were Hidden for Generations

26:22

Rediscovered: The World's Most Fascinating Lost Cities

Check out these 15 lost cities that have finally been brought back into the light.

Baba Recommends

These Ancient Sumerian Inventions Have Stood the Test of Time

8 Influential Ancient Sumerian Inventions You Should Know

Find out some of the prominent and influential inventions by ancient Sumerians that helped change our world.

Health

The Mental Health Crisis Among People with Type 2 Diabetes

new research has uncovered a less visible but equally urgent crisis: mental health disorders are driving a substantial portion of hospital admissions among people with type 2 diabetes

Tips, Life Hacks and DIY

11 Daily Habits to Avoid a Deep Cleaning

11 Easy Daily Habits to Delay or Avoid Deep Cleaning

These simple habits take only minutes each day, with some requiring just 30 seconds. Spending 15 to 20 minutes on daily maintenance can save hours of intensive cleaning later, eliminating the need for marathon Sunday cleaning sessions.