Historical map and the old map. Review of historical content on selected maps until the end of the 18th century

Abstract

The article concerns the mutual relation of two concepts: a historical map and an ancient map. He points to the related misunderstandings that appear in some works and lead to their inaccurate, interchangeable use. The text indicates the basic difference, which in the case of a historical map is the subject, i.e. the presentation of issues from the past, and in relation to the old map only the date of its creation or publication. To present the specifics of the old cartography, the content of the maps, typical of the 16th and 18th centuries, was characterized. Selected examples discuss the presence of elements of conscious historical communication at that time, focusing primarily on the cartographic content, but also considering other, especially decorative elements, present on individual objects. Their analysis proves that although the birth of proper thematic cartography – including historical one – took place in the 19th century, mapmakers in previous centuries were no stranger to the idea of using their works to illustrate history. Often, however, the historical content they considered did not go beyond single information on maps of a general geographic nature. It was not possible to change this situation until the cartographic methods of presenting historical processes and phenomena were later improved, and at the same time the development and specialization of historical sciences, requiring the presentation of research results on maps.