Ptolemy's world map

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/ptolemys-world-map

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary source text?Claudius Ptolemaeus' 'Geography', circa 150 AD
2. What is the reconstruction period?Late 13th century (circa 1295 AD) by Byzantine scholars
3. What was special about Ptolemy's world map?Ptolemy's world map was the first to use a grid of latitude and longitude, letting people find places on Earth like a treasure map.
4. How did Ptolemy decide where places were on his map?He measured places by looking at the stars and using math, then added travel notes to find their coordinates.

Cartographic Projection: A method of representing the spherical Earth's surface on a flat map, inevitably causing some distortion.
Greco-Roman World: The geographical and cultural area influenced by ancient Greek and Roman civilizations.
Mathematical Cartography: The branch of mapmaking that uses mathematical principles and calculations for accurate representation and measurement.