Creator: Cartography Associates | visit site
Grade Range: 5 - 11
In an age where digital maps are ubiquitous and take us down to house-by-house detail, we can forget how difficult it was to create accurate maps before satellite imaging. Historical maps are another tool for understanding the frame of reference of those who lived before us, and are important primary source documents. This collection includes over 50,000 historical maps, with an emphasis on 18th and 19th century maps of North and South America. The collection can be viewed from several platforms. Over 120 of the maps can be accessed using the Google Maps interface. A Georeferencer utility allows you to view a historical map laid over a modern map of the same area. And finally, the site’s LUNA browser allows you to view multiple maps together, create embeddable links or Web Widgets that can be used in other applications, create slide shows of collections of maps, and annotate specific maps in the collection.
In the Classroom
Use this historical map collection to highlight contemporary views of places featured in your history, literature, or geography lessons. Consider asking students to create a slideshow of maps that show how a location has changed over time, or how political boundaries have changed. Use a tool like Zoho Show (similar to Powerpoint, but easier and free) - reviewed here. Help students understand how culture influences map making and what historical maps can tell us other than information on geography.
At Home
If you are located in an area covered by the maps in this collection, take a look back in time at your hometown. What has changed? Why did those changes happen? What would children who lived 100 or 200 years ago see as they went to school? How would they have travelled.
Tags
map skills, maps, north america, south america, 1800s, 1700s,
Subjects
American History, Geography (US/World), History & Culture: The Americas, Social Studies, Social Studies,