Maps Used To Be Cool - What Happened?

Ever noticed how modern maps - Google Maps, printed atlases - prioritise function over beauty? Today we explore why maps used to be works of art, filled with mythical sea creatures, kings, ships and architectural depictions… and how we ended up with flat minimalistic terrain views. From the Tabula Peutingeriana to Piri Reis, Renaissance cartography, and the Mercator projection, this video dives into 2,000+ years of map evolution and explains when, how and why aesthetics were replaced by precision and mass-production efficiency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices