Maps provide us with a structure for storing geographic knowledge and experience. Without them, we would find it difficult, if not impossible, to orient ourselves in larger environments. We would be dependent upon the close, familiar world of personal...
Maps provide us with a structure for storing geographic knowledge and experience. Without them, we would find it difficult, if not impossible, to orient ourselves in larger environments. We would be dependent upon the close, familiar world of personal experience and would be hesitant - since many of us lack the explorer's intrepid sense of adventure - to strike out into unknown, uncharted terrain. Moreover, maps give us a mean not only for storing information, but for analyzing it, comparing it, generalizing or abstracting from it. From thousands of separate experiences of places, we create larger spatial clusters that become neighborhoods, districts, routes, regions, countries, all in relation to one another.