An Interactive Medieval Map from the British Library
As a part of the British Library’s new “Alexander the Great” exhibition, the BL has partnered with Escape Studios’ School of Interactive and Real Time to create an interactive medieval map.
The map in question is from Ebstorf, in northern Germany - created in ca. 1300 by the nuns who lived in the monastery there. It is a conceptual map of the world (notice it’s round!) with Jerusalem at the center and North to the viewer’s left. Notice too the not uncommon medieval practice of inscribing the body of Jesus on the map, with His head at the top (East), hands at North and South, and feet at the bottom (West).
But what’s really neat here is that the BL with their partners at Escape Studios have animated it.
In the experience (available now!), one can scroll around the map, clicking on various areas to see greater detail and have them come to life. Expert commentary is provided to learn more. What an exceptional teaching tool and one that’s just really neat.
Watch a brief video here.
Terima kasih
Well, well! From *Nice News* 1/25/23
“With GPS in our cars and on our smartphones, gone are the days of massive paper maps directing us where to go — or so we thought. Those old foldable maps are actually making a comeback, and not just among the older generations that grew up with them.
“The Ordnance Survey, the national mapping agency of Great Britain, saw a 144% increase in sales in 2020 compared to the year before, a spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal. And AAA said it produced 123% more maps in 2022 than 2021, a boost the organization noted is being driven by millennials and Gen Zers.
“Though apps like Google Maps are surely convenient, there are a few downfalls to digital navigation, the first being that a cellphone battery can die. The apps are also driven by artificial intelligence and satellite imagery to take you to your destination in the fastest way possible, meaning you can miss out on scenic views and the expertise of a cartographer-drawn map.
“‘Search and rescue teams use my maps, because they know if I haven’t been on every foot of the trail, I’ve double- and triple-checked and made sure that the information is correct,’ said Tom Harrison, who makes waterproof and tear-resistant maps of California and Hawaii. So next time you’re on a road trip or a hike, consider picking up a paper map and taking the long way.”