⏰ OKUMA MOLASI ⏰
Most modern maps place north at the top, but this arrangement is a convention rather than a rule dictated by nature. Early maps used various orientations, depending on the purpose of the map and the culture that produced it. Some medieval European maps placed east at the top because Jerusalem was considered an important reference point, while other traditions used south as the upper direction. The widespread association between north and the top of a map became stronger with the development of European navigation and cartography. As European maps became increasingly influential, their conventions were adopted more widely. This arrangement eventually became so familiar that many people began to regard it as the natural way to represent the world. Modern cartographers can easily create maps with south, east, or another direction at the top, provided that the orientation is clearly indicated. The example demonstrates how conventions can become so deeply established that people may mistake them for objective features of reality. In cartography, therefore, the appearance of a map reflects both geographical information and decisions about how that information should be presented.
2September 4, 2026 1.2K 2
