An atlas is a collection of maps that are typically organized into individual pages, each representing a specific geographic area. A map is a two-dimensional symbolic representation of selected characteristics of a place, usually drawn on a flat surface. Atlases have been traditionally bound into book form, but today they exist in digital formats as well. The word “atlas” comes from the Greek mythological character Atlas, who was tasked with holding up the sky.
There are different types of atlases, including world atlases, regional atlases, and thematic atlases. World atlases are the most comprehensive type of atlas, providing an overview of the entire world or large portions thereof. Regional atlases focus on specific regions, such as Europe or Africa. Thematic atlases cover topics such as plants or animals.
Atlases can be general reference works intended for use by nonspecialists, or they can be specialized resources intended for use by experts in specific fields. General reference Atlases typically include an index and may also contain gazetteers (lists of place names) and other information about countries and cities around the world. Specialized Atlases may provide detailed information about particular topics, such as geology or climate change.
The first known printedAtlas was created by Claudius Ptolemaeus (Ptolemy) in the 2nd century CE This early Atlas was based on observations made by Ptolemy and other Greek astronomers and included both charts and explanatory text.. In 1477 CE Bartolomeo Columbus published Liber Isolario which contained maps along with descriptions of islands he had visited during his voyages.. Gerardus Mercator’s 1569 Atlas featured uniform projection which allowed sailors to more easily calculate distances between latitudes.. The first modern Atlas was published by Scottish cartographer John Thomson in 1817 ..The term “Standard World Map” has been used to refer to any one of dozens of 20th century world maps produced in various styles using different map projections
Some popular 21st century commercial general reference Atlasses include: National Geographic’s World Atlas (11th edition), Oxford’s New Concise World Atlas (4th edition), Rand McNally’s Illustrated World Almanac (3rd edition), Lonely Planet’s Travel Maps & Phrasebooks series ,and Universalis Encyclopedia . There are also many specialized online databases and GPS applications that offer mapping capabilities far beyond those found in traditional print Atlasses