Winnie-The North Pole Analysis
MAPS AND HISTORY:
MAPS AS SOURCE MATERIAL FOR EUROPEAN ARCTIC HISTORY
IN THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES. by Thor B. Arlov 1
INTRODUCTION
In one of A.A. Milne’s books about Winnie-the-Pooh Christopher Robin takes his good friend the bear on an expedition: 2
«We’re going to discover the North Pole.»
«Oh!» said Pooh again. «What is the North Pole?» he asked.
«It’s just something you discover,» said Christopher Robin carelessly, not being quite sure himself. Now, as it turned out, they did not know exactly what they were looking for or where to find it. Nevertheless, they went merrily along into the unknown, in search of the mysterious pole.
Maps and the history of European Arctic expansion
Although slightly anachronistic, this anecdote illustrates a very real …show more content…
Directions could be read off a compass. However, since sailing vessels could not keep constant speed and direction, the longitude could not be determined correctly without proper equipment for measuring time. Chronometers that worked aboard ships were not invented until late
18th century. Only then too started the process of standardization of scale and measures.
The printing process
Although printing technology was a great advantage to the publication and distribution of maps, the process also introduced new sources of error. In the transfer of data from manuscript to printing media, errors could occur. The woodcut technique of the 16th century was too crude to allow a high degree of detail. When cartographers started to use copperplate or endwood engraving techniques in the 17th century, print quality improved.
Still, however, copying manuscripts onto the plates was a manual, slow and costly process.
Coping with the Arctic environment
Collecting geographical data in the Arctic represented a special challenge. Magnetic deviation, light conditions, climate and ice complicated the navigation and resulted
MAPS AS SOURCE MATERIAL FOR EUROPEAN ARCTIC HISTORY
IN THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES. by Thor B. Arlov 1
INTRODUCTION
In one of A.A. Milne’s books about Winnie-the-Pooh Christopher Robin takes his good friend the bear on an expedition: 2
«We’re going to discover the North Pole.»
«Oh!» said Pooh again. «What is the North Pole?» he asked.
«It’s just something you discover,» said Christopher Robin carelessly, not being quite sure himself. Now, as it turned out, they did not know exactly what they were looking for or where to find it. Nevertheless, they went merrily along into the unknown, in search of the mysterious pole.
Maps and the history of European Arctic expansion
Although slightly anachronistic, this anecdote illustrates a very real …show more content…
Directions could be read off a compass. However, since sailing vessels could not keep constant speed and direction, the longitude could not be determined correctly without proper equipment for measuring time. Chronometers that worked aboard ships were not invented until late
18th century. Only then too started the process of standardization of scale and measures.
The printing process
Although printing technology was a great advantage to the publication and distribution of maps, the process also introduced new sources of error. In the transfer of data from manuscript to printing media, errors could occur. The woodcut technique of the 16th century was too crude to allow a high degree of detail. When cartographers started to use copperplate or endwood engraving techniques in the 17th century, print quality improved.
Still, however, copying manuscripts onto the plates was a manual, slow and costly process.
Coping with the Arctic environment
Collecting geographical data in the Arctic represented a special challenge. Magnetic deviation, light conditions, climate and ice complicated the navigation and resulted