Ancient times
What is the earliest known map is a matter of some debate, both because the term "map" is not well-defined and because some artifacts that … See more

General vs. thematic cartography
In understanding basic maps, the field of cartography can be divided into two general categories: … See more

Modern technology, including advances in printing, the advent of geographic information systems and graphics software, and the Internet, has vastly simplified the … See more

• Animated mapping – Application of animation to add a temporal component to a map displaying change
• Cartogram – Map distorting size to show another value
• Terrain cartography, also known as Cartographic relief … See more

There are technical and cultural aspects to producing maps. In this sense, maps can sometimes be said to be biased. The study of bias, influence, and agenda in making a map is what comprise a map's deconstruction. A central tenet of deconstructionism … See more

Some maps contain deliberate errors or distortions, either as propaganda or as a "watermark" to help the copyright owner identify infringement … See more

Professional and learned societies include:
• International Cartographic Association (ICA), the world body for mapping and GIScience … See more