Creating In-World Map Histories

Maps are more than just geographical tools; they are snapshots of how people in your world perceive their surroundings, their understanding of the unknown, and their ambitions or fears. In your fantasy world, just as in ours, maps will have evolved over time, changing as new lands are discovered, technology advances, or as political boundaries shift. By creating a history of cartography within your world, you can explore how knowledge and exploration have shaped your world’s civilisations.

Let’s look at creating a timeline of map evolution; from the influence of early explorers, through all of the cultural, political, and technological shifts that change the way your world is represented on paper.