Medieval local maps: Mapmaking, part 5

Local maps were uncommon throughout the medieval period. Few survive. Those that do tell interesting stories.
‘Plan of Chertsey Abbey (Surrey Archaeological Collections).png’ is public domain via Wikimedia Commons [[File:Plan of Chertsey Abbey (Surrey Archaeological Collections).png|Plan_of_Chertsey_Abbey_(Surrey_Archaeological_Collections)]]
‘Mappa Thaneti Insule.jpg’ is public domain via Wikimedia Commons [[File:Mappa Thaneti Insule.jpg|Mappa_Thaneti_Insule]]
‘Pendennis castle’ by Willhsmit is public domain via Wikimedia Commons [File: Pendennis Castle.jpg]
‘Cromwell,Thomas(1EEssex)01.jpg’ is public domain via Wikimedia Commons [[File:Cromwell,Thomas(1EEssex)01.jpg|Cromwell,Thomas(1EEssex)01]]
‘Map of Cornish coastline (c.1539) - BL Cotton MS Augustus I i 35.jpg’ is public domain via Wikimedia Commons [[File:Map of Cornish coastline (c.1539) - BL Cotton MS Augustus I i 35.jpg|Map_of_Cornish_coastline_(c.1539)_-_BL_Cotton_MS_Augustus_I_i_35]]

[@Ad.dan29]

This is so interesting!

[@Davidbirdman101]

Another great video!

[@Melkimund]

Im happy; I love him. Im ready to binge.

[@rosiebrigham4701]

Really interesting thank you! Could you explain more how the local maps were created? How did the likes of Norden actually create their maps?

[@richardstone238]

Hi Rosie, and thank you for your question. It;s interesting that medieval maps adopt a bird's eye view that we now take for granted but the actual creation must have depended largell on observation and imagination, particularly for the outline of boundaries, they were clearly useful in establishing ownership/control of territory but by our standards, not accurate. Speed and Norden begin with Christopher Saxton's survey as their base from which to update & add detail by observation. Saxton left no notes but the topographical accuracy of his maps is clear evidence he used plane trigonometry in which three fixed points in the landscape are used and by measuring one side and two angles it gives the length iof the remaining two sides and the final angle. Each triangle links to the next.