How to work with maps
Overview:
Historians are always working with all kinds of maps. Military historians use maps of certain battlefields to study troop movement and analyze the choices of the commanders. Social historians study maps of neighborhoods. They also look at maps of properties of homes and farms of homesteaders during westward expansion. Historians study the route of Lewis and Clark and look at maps they created along the way. Historians trace migration patterns of people and use a variety of maps to help their study. Regardless, history happens on the surface of the Earth and using maps can provide important clues to places and events and when it happened.
Pre - Before you study the map in detail:
1: Decide what kind of map you are looking at.
2. Is there a title? What does this tell you about the map?
3. Is there a date? What does this tell you about the map?
Active: Study your map in detail
1. List important features of the map. What do these features tell you? Example: map scale, map key, compass rose etc...
2. Is the map handwritten (Primary Source) or printed?
3. Are there any notations (notes) on the map? What are they and why are they important?
3. Is there a name of the mapmaker? Who is it and is there a significance to the name?
4. Describe the map key. What information does this tell you?
Post: Activities after you study the map:
1. List three things on the map that are the most important. Explain your thinking.
2. Why do you think this map was drawn or created?
3. Does the information on the map support or contradict (opposite) information you have read about this time period or specific event?
4. Write a question your would ask the mapmaker.
Historians are always working with all kinds of maps. Military historians use maps of certain battlefields to study troop movement and analyze the choices of the commanders. Social historians study maps of neighborhoods. They also look at maps of properties of homes and farms of homesteaders during westward expansion. Historians study the route of Lewis and Clark and look at maps they created along the way. Historians trace migration patterns of people and use a variety of maps to help their study. Regardless, history happens on the surface of the Earth and using maps can provide important clues to places and events and when it happened.
Pre - Before you study the map in detail:
1: Decide what kind of map you are looking at.
- raised relief map
- topographical map
- political map
- natural resources map
- military map
- artifact map
- satellite photograph
- pictograph
- weather map
- Other type of map
2. Is there a title? What does this tell you about the map?
3. Is there a date? What does this tell you about the map?
Active: Study your map in detail
1. List important features of the map. What do these features tell you? Example: map scale, map key, compass rose etc...
2. Is the map handwritten (Primary Source) or printed?
3. Are there any notations (notes) on the map? What are they and why are they important?
3. Is there a name of the mapmaker? Who is it and is there a significance to the name?
4. Describe the map key. What information does this tell you?
Post: Activities after you study the map:
1. List three things on the map that are the most important. Explain your thinking.
2. Why do you think this map was drawn or created?
3. Does the information on the map support or contradict (opposite) information you have read about this time period or specific event?
4. Write a question your would ask the mapmaker.