Chapter - 1, TRACING CHANGES THROUGH A THOUSAND YEARS
Chapter - 1, TRACING CHANGES THROUGH A THOUSAND YEARS Map 1 – by Al-Idrisi (1154 CE): Created by Arab geographer Al-Idrisi. Shows the Indian subcontinent as part of a larger world map. South India appears at the top – the map is upside down by today’s standards. Place names are written in Arabic. Reflects the knowledge and perceptions of the world from an Arab-Muslim perspective at the time. Emphasis is not on geographical accuracy but on important trade routes and cities. Map 2 – by a French Cartographer (1720s): Made by a European (French) cartographer. More modern and accurate in terms of shape and direction. Uses European mapping techniques. Names and directions are closer to what we see in modern maps. North is shown at the top, as is common today. Famous Place Names: Kanauj in present-day Uttar Pradesh is visible in Al-Idrisi's map, written as Qanauj in Arabic. Shows that some cities were already well-known centres of culture and power by the 12th century. Comparison of Map ...