Encyclopedia/8. Knowledge of Space & Time/1. Geography, Cartography & GIS/01. Cartography & Spatial Data • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
This timeline traces the evolution of geography, cartography, and spatial data from Ptolemy's Geographia through the Mercator projection, the quest for longitude, and the modern GPS satellite network, incorporating global contributions.
Chronological Storyline (42 Milestones)
150 CE
Ptolemy's Geographia
Claudius Ptolemy compiles Geographia, a treatise on cartography containing coordinates for 8,000 places and methods for projecting a spherical Earth onto a flat map. It becomes the foundation of European cartography for over a millennium. #cartography #history )
Ptolemy's Geographia By Ptolemy - This file has been provided by the British Library from its digital collections. Links to the British Library's website may be broken as the library recovers from a October 2023 cyber attack, and will be updated once material becomes accessible online. For more information on the attack see: https://www.bl.uk/about/cyber-attack A full catalogue record for the item shown is available on the British Library website., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=170931006
267 CE
Pei Xiu's Grid Map
Chinese cartographer Pei Xiu develops the first known grid system for mapping, outlined in his Yu Gong Regional Maps. His work establishes standards for scale and distance in Chinese cartography. #cartography #China
1154 CE
Al-Idrisi's Tabula Rogeriana
Muhammad al-Idrisi completes the Tabula Rogeriana for King Roger II of Sicily, a world map and geographic text combining Islamic and European knowledge. It remains the most accurate world map for three centuries. #cartography #islamicgoldenage
Al-Idrisi's Tabula Rogeriana By unknown copyist - Arabe 2221 BNF, earliest known surviving copy of Idrisi's Nuzhat al-Mushtaq, 13th century copy https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b6000547t/f165.item.zoom, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=128511980
1402 CE
Kangnido World Map
The Kangnido, a world map created in Korea, depicts Eurasia and Africa with remarkable accuracy, based on Chinese and Islamic sources. It is one of the oldest surviving world maps from East Asia. #cartography #Korea
Kangnido World Map By Kim Sahyung, Lee Moo, Lee Hui - ..., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=85252
1459 CE
Fra Mauro World Map
Venetian monk Fra Mauro produces a circular world map incorporating extensive geographic knowledge from Asian, African, and European travelers. It is considered one of the finest medieval maps. #cartography #medieval
Fra Mauro World Map By Fra Mauro - https://www.highres.factum-arte.org/Fra_Mauro_Map/shared/viewer.html (downloaded with dezoomify-rs and cropped with vips), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=188227727
1492 CE
Behaim's Globe
Martin Behaim constructs the Erdapfel, the oldest surviving terrestrial globe in Nuremberg. It reflects pre-Columbian geography and ignores the Americas, showing Europe, Asia, and Africa. #cartography #globe
Behaim's Globe By Martin Behaim / Georg Glockendon - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=76380418
1507 CE
Waldseemüller Map
Martin Waldseemüller publishes a world map that first uses the name 'America' for the New World. It becomes a milestone in naming continents. #cartography #americas
Waldseemüller Map By Martin Waldseemüller - https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3200.ct000725, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5079907
1529 CE
Diogo Ribeiro World Map
Portuguese cartographer Diogo Ribeiro creates a world map (Padrón Real) that accurately outlines the Americas and the Pacific, reflecting Spanish and Portuguese discoveries. It is a key example of early modern cartography. #cartography #portugal
Diogo Ribeiro World Map By Diego Ribeiro (Diego Ribero, Rivero, de Ribero, de Rivero, Ribeira, etc.) - Rare Maps.com, from a facsimile in the Edward Luther Stevenson Collection, from an original in the Grand Ducal Library (now Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek) in Weimar, Germany, believed to be a reproduction of the era's Padron Real in the Casa de Contratacion in Seville, Kingdom of Castile, Spain., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=128552534
1541 CE
Codex Mendoza Aztec Map
The Codex Mendoza, commissioned by Spanish viceroy Antonio de Mendoza, includes an Aztec map of Tenochtitlan and pictograms showing tribute routes. It blends indigenous and European cartographic traditions. #cartography #aztec
Codex Mendoza Aztec Map By Unknown author - https://iiif.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/iiif/viewer/2fea788e-2aa2-4f08-b6d9-648c00486220#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=13&r=0&xywh=-5497%2C-1%2C17409%2C8220] https://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/2fea788e-2aa2-4f08-b6d9-648c00486220/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=710513
1569 CE
Mercator Projection
Gerardus Mercator introduces a cylindrical map projection that preserves angles, ideal for navigation. The Mercator world map becomes the standard for nautical charts and profoundly influences global cartography. #cartography #navigation
Mercator Projection By Frans Hogenberg - Atlas sive Cosmographicae Meditationes de Fabrica Mundi et Fabricati Figura, 1595, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7090300
1570 CE
Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum
Abraham Ortelius publishes the first modern atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, containing 70 uniform maps compiled from the best sources. It is a landmark in cartographic standardization. #cartography #atlas
Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum By Abraham Ortelius - https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/99250/world-continents-typus-orbis-terrarum-americae-s-ortelius, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=153530215
1644 CE
Blaeu's Atlas Maior
Willem Blaeu and his son Joan publish the Atlas Maior, a monumental multi-volume atlas with detailed maps and ornate decoration. It represents the pinnacle of Dutch cartography. #cartography #atlas
Blaeu's Atlas Maior By Joan Blaeu - View this work on the website of Erfgoed Leiden en Omstreken, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54264647
Jul 8, 1714 CE
Longitude Act
The British Parliament passes the Longitude Act, offering a large prize for a practical method to determine longitude at sea. This spurs development of marine chronometers and improved navigation. #navigation #longitude
Longitude Act By Sodacan - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10952376
1717 CE
Kangxi Atlas of China
Jesuit missionaries under Emperor Kangxi complete a comprehensive survey of China, producing the 'Kangxi Atlas' with grid maps and latitude/longitude measurements. It modernizes Chinese cartography. #cartography #China
1730 CE
Harrison's H1 Chronometer
John Harrison presents his first marine chronometer, H1, designed to keep accurate time at sea for longitude calculation. Though not initially tested, it begins a decades-long quest. #navigation #chronometer
Harrison's H1 Chronometer By Thomas King († circa 1796date QS:P,+1796-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902) - http://www.worldtempus.ch/images/john_harrison.jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13286643
Nov 18, 1761 CE
Harrison's H4 Sea Trial
John Harrison's H4 chronometer, a large watch, undergoes a successful sea trial to Jamaica, proving accurate marine timekeeping. It revolutionizes naval navigation. #navigation #longitude
1773 CE
Longitude Prize Awarded to Harrison
After years of controversy, John Harrison receives the Longitude Prize for his H4 chronometer, finally solving the longitude problem. This marks a turning point in navigation. #navigation #history
Longitude Prize Awarded to Harrison By Pearson Scott Foresman - This image has been extracted from another file, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3184188
1793 CE
Cassini's Map of France
The Cassini family completes the first topographic map of an entire country, the Carte de Cassini, using triangulation and accurate survey methods. It sets new standards for national mapping. #cartography #topography
Cassini's Map of France By Cassini III - Géoportail : http://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/accueil https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b53095162g/f1, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42234004
1800 CE
Humboldt's South American Maps
Alexander von Humboldt creates detailed maps of South America, including the first isothermal lines and vegetation maps. His work integrates multiple disciplines in cartography. #cartography #geography
Humboldt's South American Maps By Joseph Karl Stieler - [1], Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10393110
1854 CE
John Snow's Cholera Map
Dr. John Snow maps cholera cases in London's Soho district, identifying a contaminated water pump. This pioneering use of thematic mapping establishes the foundations of epidemiology and GIS. #cartography #gis
John Snow's Cholera Map By Jamzze - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=99243672
1879 CE
U.S. Geological Survey Founded
The USGS is established to systematically map the United States' geology, topography, and resources. It becomes a leading provider of topographic and scientific maps. #cartography #survey
U.S. Geological Survey Founded By U.S. Government - Extracted from page 40 of PDF version of 2006 NGA GEOINT Basic Doctrine (direct PDF URL [1])., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4058381
Oct 13, 1884 CE
International Meridian Conference
The International Meridian Conference in Washington, D.C., establishes the Greenwich Prime Meridian as the global standard for longitude and time zones, unifying cartographic practice. #cartography #timezones
International Meridian Conference By http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/ - http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/Academy/Rocket_Sci/clocks/time-gmt.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23095564
1890 CE
Marshall Islands Stick Charts
Marshallese navigators use stick charts, made from sticks and shells, to represent ocean swell patterns and island locations. They are among the most sophisticated indigenous navigational tools. #navigation #indigenous
Marshall Islands Stick Charts By Cullen328 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46844500
1920 CE
Aerial Photography for Mapping
World War I accelerates the use of aerial photography for topographic mapping. After the war, photogrammetry techniques are developed for creating accurate maps from photos. #cartography #photogrammetry
Aerial Photography for Mapping By Marco Leiter - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43186934
Oct 4, 1957 CE
Sputnik 1 Launch
The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite. Its radio signals and orbital tracking demonstrate satellite positioning, laying groundwork for GPS and space-based geodesy. #space #gps
Sputnik 1 Launch By Andrey Butko - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4894894
Apr 1, 1960 CE
TIROS-1 Weather Satellite
NASA launches TIROS-1, the first successful weather satellite, returning TV images of cloud cover. It initiates satellite remote sensing for Earth observation and meteorology. #remotesensing #satellite
TIROS-1 Weather Satellite By Unknown author, PD, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26969252
1963 CE
GIS Concept by Roger Tomlinson
Roger Tomlinson conceptualizes the first computerized geographic information system (GIS) for the Canada Land Inventory. His work defines GIS as we know it today. #gis #geography
Jul 23, 1972 CE
Landsat 1 Launch
NASA launches Landsat 1, the first satellite dedicated to Earth observation for land resources. Its multispectral imagery revolutionizes environmental monitoring and mapping. #remotesensing #landsat
Landsat 1 Launch By NASA - https://appel.nasa.gov/2023/07/14/this-month-in-nasa-history-a-closer-look-at-earth/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=147229492
1973 CE
GPS Development Approved
The U.S. Department of Defense approves the concept for the Global Positioning System (GPS), a satellite-based navigation system. Development begins under the NAVSTAR program. #gps #navigation
GPS Development Approved By U.S. Air Force - Original source: http://www.losangeles.af.mil/shared/media/ggallery/hires/AFG-100825-006.jpg See also: https://www.af.mil/News/Photos.aspx?igphoto=2001638810 Full resolution: https://www.gps.gov/multimedia/images/GPS-III-A.jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20220437
Feb 22, 1978 CE
First GPS Satellite Launched
The first GPS Block I satellite is launched, initiating the NAVSTAR constellation. It proves the concept of positioning via satellite signals. #gps #space
First GPS Satellite Launched By Paulsava - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47209685
1983 CE
GPS Opened to Civilian Use
After the Korean Air Lines Flight 007 incident, President Reagan announces GPS will be available for civilian use to improve aviation safety. This expands GPS applications globally. #gps #navigation
Dec 8, 1993 CE
GPS Achieves Full Operational Capability
The GPS constellation reaches 24 operational satellites, providing worldwide continuous coverage. It becomes a global utility for navigation, mapping, and timing. #gps #navigation
Feb 11, 1999 CE
SRTM Mission
The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) onboard Space Shuttle Endeavour maps 80% of Earth's land surface using radar interferometry, producing the most complete digital elevation model at the time. #topography #remotesensing
SRTM Mission By Unknown author, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=90243
May 2, 2000 CE
Selective Availability Turned Off
The U.S. government disables Selective Availability, removing intentional GPS signal degradation for civilian users. This improves accuracy from ~100m to ~20m, spurring consumer GPS devices. #gps #technology
Feb 8, 2005 CE
Google Maps Launch
Google launches its web mapping service, offering a user-friendly interface with zoomable maps, satellite imagery, and route planning. It democratizes geographic information. #maps #technology
Google Maps Launch By Google Inc. - https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=185474719
Aug 9, 2007 CE
OpenStreetMap Founded
Steve Coast launches OpenStreetMap, a collaborative project to create a free, editable map of the world. It becomes a key open-source alternative to proprietary mapping services. #maps #opensource
OpenStreetMap Founded By Ken Vermette based on https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OpenStreetMap-Logo-2006.svg - https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:Public-images-osm_logo.svg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4075670
Dec 15, 2010 CE
Galileo Test Satellite Launched
The European Space Agency launches the first two Galileo in-orbit validation satellites, beginning Europe's civilian GPS program. Galileo aims to provide highly accurate positioning globally. #gps #europe )
Galileo Test Satellite Launched By Unknown author - https://www.esa.int/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42733223
Dec 27, 2012 CE
China's BeiDou Regional Service
China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System begins providing navigation services across the Asia-Pacific region, offering an alternative to GPS with short-message communication. #gps #china
China's BeiDou Regional Service By U.S. Government - Extracted from PDF version of the Vol 26-4 2004 DISAM Journal (direct PDF URL [1]), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5020632
Apr 3, 2015 CE
Sentinel-1A Launch
The European Copernicus programme launches Sentinel-1A, the first of a constellation of radar satellites for continuous Earth observation. It provides free, open access data for mapping and monitoring. #remotesensing #copernicus
Sentinel-1A Launch By Rama - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18948403
Dec 23, 2018 CE
GPS III Satellite Launch
The first GPS III satellite is launched, featuring increased accuracy, anti-jamming capabilities, and compatibility with other GNSS. It modernizes the GPS constellation. #gps #technology
2020 CE
BeiDou Global Service
China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System completes its global deployment, offering worldwide navigation and positioning services as a fully independent GNSS. #gps #china
2020 CE
GLONASS Fully Operational
Russia's GLONASS system achieves a full constellation of 24 operational satellites, providing global coverage and enhancing multi-GNSS positioning accuracy worldwide. #gps #russia
