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Article created by: Viktorija Strelciunaite

If an atlas was your favorite ‘book’ as a child and spending time on Google Maps is now a favored pastime, welcome to the best post you’ll see all day. While it is a bold statement to make, any fan of maps ought to love today’s list, as it’s dedicated to all sorts of old and ancient maps.

So, without further ado, scroll down to find some of the most unique examples of cartography that we managed to find on the internet, and enjoy the trip they take you on. While you’re at it, make sure to upvote your favorite maps, too!

Below you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with assistant professor of geography at University of Oregon, an expert in cartography, map design, and mapping environment-society interactions, Carolyn Fish, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Map Of The Ancient Continents, 1719

Ancient map of the "Ancien Continent" highlighting historical geography with detailed continental features.

Alain Manesson Mallet (1630–1706) Report

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    #2

    Nautical Atlas Of The World, Circular World Map Of The Portuguese Hemisphere, 1519

    Ancient world map with artistic borders depicting historical geography and celestial figures.

    Library of Congress Report

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    #3

    Ptolemy's World Map, 1482

    Antique map showcasing historical geography, surrounded by illustrations of faces.

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

    Nicholas Germanus Report

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    #4

    Al-Idrisi's World Map In Arabic, 1456 Copy, The Original Text Dates To 1154

    Ancient world map with Arabic script, offering historical insights. Blue and gold circular design.

    wikimedia commons Report

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    #5

    Babylonian Map Of The World, Probably From Sippar, Mesopotamia, Iraq, 700-500 BCE

    Ancient artifact featuring a historical map etched into a clay tablet, offering insights into past cartography.

    Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg) Report

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    #6

    The Largest Medieval Map (Hereford Mappa Mundi), 13th Century

    Ancient historical map displaying medieval world geography with detailed illustrations and markings.

    wikipedia Report

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    #7

    Map Of Europe In The Form Of A Queen, Engraving And Letterpress, 1587

    Historic map of Europe shaped like a queen, illustrating fascinating insights into past geography and history.

    Matthias Quad after Johannes Putsch Report

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    #8

    World Map, 1700

    A historical world map with intricate illustrations, showcasing insights into diverse continents and maritime exploration.

    Heinrich Scherer Report

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    #9

    Cadastral Map Showing Landownership In Fushimi, Kyoto, Japan, 1595

    Historical map showcasing detailed city layout and surrounding landscapes, offering insights into past geography.

    Library of Congress Report

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    #10

    Map And Views Illustrating Sir Francis Drake's West Indian Voyage, Santiago, 1586

    Old historical map showing ships on the sea and coastal landscapes, offering insights into past geography.

    Library of Congress Report

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    #11

    Cosmographical Map Or Universal Description Of The World With The Actual Path Of The Winds, 1570

    Historic world map with ornate borders, offering fascinating insights into cartography from the past.

    Library of Congress Report

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    #12

    Description Of The Holy Land, 1585

    Historic map showcasing ancient regions near the Mediterranean, offering new insights into geography and history.

    Library of Congress Report

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    #13

    Samuel Dunn's Map Of The World, 1794

    Historical map depicting the world with detailed geographical features from the past.

    Samuel Dunn's map of the world, drawn in 1794 AD. Dunn was the first to map out the entire world using Captain James Cook's discoveries as his guide.

    Public Domain Report

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    #14

    Map Of The Americas, 1553

    Historic map illustration showing early New World exploration routes and territories.

    franpritchett.com Report

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    #15

    The Countie Pallantine Of Lancaster Described And Divided Into Hundreds, 1610

    Historic map of Lancashire, colorful illustrations and ornate details showcasing past geographical insights.

    Jodocus Hondius, engraved by John Speed, and restored by Adam Cuerden Report

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    #16

    The Psalter World Map, 1260 AD

    Medieval map depicting historical world with religious figures, offering insights into past worldviews and cartography.

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

    British Library Report

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    #17

    Map Of Ancient Palaestina, 1859

    Historical map of Palestine from 1859, offering insights into past geographic and political landscapes.

    Petermann, August ; Stieler, Adolf (Herausgeber/-in) ; Perthes, Justus (Herausgeber/-in) Report

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    #18

    Map Of The Ancient Roman World From Their Perspective

    Ancient world map showcasing continents Europa, Asia, and Africa, revealing historical insights.

    Roman Empire became the most dominant country globally by AD 98–117 through a mixture of military power, political adaptability, and economic enlargement. This enlargement drastically transformed the Mediterranean world.

    Roman Empire Report

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    #19

    Bunting Clover Leaf Map, 1581

    Historical map depicting Europe, Asia, Africa in a cloverleaf pattern, offering insights into past geographical perspectives.

    The Bunting Clover Leaf Map, created by Heinrich Bunting in Germany in 1581, is a later Christian map. This map represents the world as an extension of the Christian trinity, with Jerusalem serving as the hub that binds it all together, rather than how it actually is.

    Heinrich Bunting Report

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    #20

    Map Of Old Prussia, And The Ancient Prussian Lands, 1584

    Antique map of Prussia with various regions highlighted in different colors, illustrating historical insights.

    Caspar Hennenberger Report

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    #21

    Jansson Map Of The Ancient World, 1650

    Historical world map with elaborate borders and Latin text, showcasing continents as understood in the past.

    Jansson, J. Report

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    #22

    Map Of Ancient Geography, Circa 1608

    Historical map depicting ancient geographical zones, highlighting temperate and torrid regions with detailed artistry.

    Abraham Ortelius Report

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    #23

    Map Of Ancient Europe, Possibly After 1870

    Ancient Europe map depicting historical regions and seas, offering insights into past geographical perspectives.

    National Library of Israel Report

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    #24

    Map Over Munich, 1740

    Historical map of Munich illustrating city layout and fortifications from the past, offering insights into history.

    Unknown author Report

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    #25

    World Map By Cosmas Indicopleustes, 6th Century

    Ancient historical map showing detailed geographical representation with faded text and symbols.

    World map by Cosmas Indicopleustes from the sixth century, which shows the globe as a rectangular-shaped surface.

    Cosmas Indicopleustes Report

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    #26

    Map Of The World According To Ptolemy, 1299 ; 1952

    Ancient world map by Ptolemy showcasing historical geographical insights.

    University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries Report

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    #27

    Ancient Map Of Black Sea, Circa 1559

    Ancient map with detailed illustrations, showcasing historical geographic insights.

    Diogo Homem Report

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    #28

    Engraving On A Mammoth Tusk, Perhaps Representing A “Map”, Gravettian

    Ancient carved artifact displaying geometric patterns, possibly offering new historical insights.


    Zde Report

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