I appreciate that in the 13C there were probably no real maps in Western Europe, as we know them, of large areas such as countries or continents. However, does anyone know of the existence of local maps, such as maps of a manors / villages?
The spell The Inexorable Search implies that in canon Ars5 that maps of some sort exist.
Maps certainly existed.
How precise and correct they were, thats another matter. (and how easily available outside of the right place, another matter again)
Further still, maps using different projection methods than today was probably as common as our "top down"(like a "what you see from point to point" based map, or one that looks like isometric but with multiple viewpoints mixed into one, potentially extremely confusing for someone who hasnt seen a certain type before). A real example might be how charts for sea routes might state in writing how to follow a current to where the ocean smells a specific way, or there´s a certain type of seaweed, etc etc, to get from/to certain locations... There were even some charts for sea routes that were completely in text only.
And local maps were probably quite common, problem being that they were usually written on perishable materials(bark, wood, wax tablets...) which is why such has only been found in very few places where ground conditions(like the place in Russia where they found a bunch of bark tablets with all kinds of temporary everyday writing in what was probably once an inn) or something special(like the roman commander who hurriedly tried to burn his stash of messages and "paper" failed to account for rain appearing, apparently after he left the fire by itself)...
Interestingly enough I came across this at some point in my meandering
livius.org/pen-pg/peutinger/map.html
Could also search for "Peutinger Map"
There were a number of such sites that I failed to bookmark and I wish I could remember how I found them, but I always remember Peutinger Map for some reason.
The discussion about the maps is fair enough.
Thanks for the input to you both.
Yes, I was vaguely aware of the Peutinger map. It would not be much use of The Inexorable Search.
I also expect there were local maps (probably "pictorial") but I am disappointed there is little in the way of tangible evidence. We have parchments surviving since the 13C so why not a parchment of such a map, assuming they existed. Perhaps someone knows of one in a museum somewhere.
I am certain that there are such documents, local maps, town borders and such, but it probably would not be something found at the local library or the internet (unless you have say a university access web address). If you live near a university you could probably find something close to what you are looking.
You may even be able to copy some originals, who knows.
There are some stardard local maps I have seen but I think as always Dire hit it right on the head, that most maps of that period were "relationship" maps. Mostly lines and descriptions, and a number that were little more than a written out journey in a diary.
A few minutes of searching found this:
stock-images.antiqueprints.com/s ... -maps.html
ancienthistory.about.com/library ... _index.htm
forumancientcoins.com/Articl ... _World.htm
mariamilani.com/rome_maps/ma ... t_rome.htm
oddens.geog.uu.nl/browse_result. ... t_result=0
There are LOTS of old maps online or available online, but its not easy finding the ones you want.