The study of early maps: Methodology

Abstract

Summary The literature about the history of early maps contains numerous studies in which their reliability has been assessed ‐either directly or implicitly ‐ by a variety of well‐established techniques. On the other hand, few studies have attempted to isolate these methods for the benefit of new researchers or as a basis for a discussion of their validity. The present paper sets down a few skeletal notes on the topic, considering both evidence of reliability on the maps themselves, and some of the external sources which assist in critical interpretation.