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**Iran in 42 historical maps: 1480-2018 (130 pages) ** Iran refers to “Land of the Aryans”. The term Arya is from a Proto Indo-European root, generally meaning “noble” or “free”. Iran was formerly known as Persia in the west, until Shah Reza Pahlavi officially asked the international community in 1935 to name the country by the name Iran. The name Persia comes from the ancient Greek word Persis , which is a translation for what the Persians around the world called Pars, a region in the south of Iran. Urban civilization in Persia dates back at least 9000 years. The city Tehran gained importance at the end of the 18th century during the reign of the Kadjar dynasty. It became the capital of the country in 1786.

North- and South-Korea in 31 historical maps: 1402-2018 (108 pages) Korea refers to Gaoli, Marco Polo’s Italian rendition of Gāo Lì, the Chinese name for Goryeo, which had named itself after the earlier Goguryeo. The original name was a combination of the adjective go (meaning “lofty”) and a local Yemaek tribe, whose original name is thought to have been either Guru (“walled city”) or Gauri (“centre”). After the Korean war the peninsula Korea was divided into North- and South-Korea. First from 1945 along the 38th parallel and since 1953, along the demarcation line. South Koreans call Korea Hanguk, from Samhan. North Koreans call it Chosŏn from Gojoseon. Pyongyang became the capital city of North-Korea, Seoul the capital city of South-Korea. The first more detailed (separate) maps of the Korean peninsula, made by European cartographers, did appear just half of the 18th century. NOTE: Apart from the Ming map (1390) and Gangnido map (1402/1560), all maps included in this atlas are made by European and American cartographers and therefor do represent a Western view of both countries.

Turkey in 43 historical maps: 1480-2018 (132 pages) The name Turkey refers to Land of the Turks. The name for this ethnic group was first used by the ancient Greek and means “(strong) owner”. Turkey was also described by Ptolemy in his Geographia (150AD). The accompanying maps were worked out again by European cartographers at the end of the 15th century. Numerous separately printed maps of the country appeared in the following centuries. The western part of present-day Turkey was named Asia Minor (Little Asia) or (A)Natolia - meaning East or “sunrise” - on 16th and 17th century maps. The city Ankara became the capital in 1923. In ancient times it was called Ancyra. According to a legend it was already founded in the 9th century BC.

This e-book covers the most important maps of the moon: from the very first hand-made drawings to current images generated by advanced remote sensing techniques. The emphasis is on small-scale overview maps that show the entire moon, both the “front” and the “back”. Using modern techniques, numerous very detailed images of the moon have also been made. For this, reference is made to the websites of NASA and ESA, among others.

Developing a computer model of the solar system with a high-level computer language (94 pages). The author has experience with various programming languages, from Basic and C++ to Java (Script). In his opinion, one of the finest languages is NetLogo. This is a language, specially developed for teachers and students at high schools and universities, with which computer models and simulations can be developed for various scientific applications. The language is even suitable for creating simple AI applications. In this book, a model of the solar system is built using NetLogo.

The author made several trips to the beautiful Emerald Isle (Ireland) at the beginning of this century. Based on this he has created an “alternative” travel guide. It includes a tour around the island where the most important places are visited from a topographic, geological and archaeological/historical perspective. Twenty-one sights on the island are visited during a counter-clockwise tour along the coast. With your own or rented car or camper, the complete tour can be done in just as many days (3 weeks).

Developing a cartographic viewer for raster-based Digital Terrain Models In the past, the collection, processing and presentation of elevation data (in the form of maps) was an extremely time-consuming and a specialized activity. The story in this book shows that today, through the application of advanced remote sensing techniques and computer graphics, this can be almost completely automated. Even a “simple” programming language like JavaScript can be used for the final presentation.

Almost everyone uses a Route Navigation System these days, sometimes even daily. This book covers the (technical) “story behind it”. It answers questions such as: how are the (map) data obtained, how the map database is constructed, how GPS works to determine your location, what does the route planner algorithm look like, etc. The various techniques are explained in an understandable way and clarified through clear illustrations. This is introduced by a bit of history: what did the first road maps look like and who made them. NOTE: The term Route Navigation System (RNS for short) is used because a number of systems discussed are suitable for various modes of transport: car driving, cycling and walking.

This e-Atlas shows a series of (100) curious maps which have been made through the history of cartography. From early classical maps to contemporary computer images. Mostly they were the result of the (lack of) information available to the author drawing the map. In the past the only source for cartographers was oral and written information from merchants, seamen, explorers etc. Copying maps of (foreign) colleague cartographers, including their errors, was very common. This atlas is not just a visual tour showing the history of mapping; it also marks the most important discoveries and the advancement in technology of mankind. From inventions and applications such as the magnetic compass and the printing press to modern mapping techniques like satellite remote sensing. PART IV – the main part - contains a selection of remarkable maps and a description of their contents and makers. It starts with the earliest survived maps. The maps are not only characterized by their content based on newly available information. The cartographic drawing style has also evolved through time: from early manuscript and woodcut drawings via (copper) engravings to modern printing techniques. The timeline follows the (European) history of cartography. The maps (Part IV) are grouped according to their characteristics. From the very first hand-drawn world maps, via 16th/17th century atlas maps (Golden Age of Cartography), to contemporary computer-generated (thematic) images. Within a group they are arranged chronologically. Most of the earliest maps are in the classic Latin language, most ‘modern’ maps are in the English language.

This concise presentation covers the steps to go through to design a structured relational database. From collecting the basic information to storing it in tables. Note: It is not a manual for operating a tool like Access. It is, however, a description of the fundamental concepts that form the basis.

Gerardus Mercator: the cartographer who shaped our worldview (1512-1594) This story is dedicated to Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594), for many – including the author of this book – the greatest cartographer of all time. His life, education and work are described. He lived in a time and region where poverty and political-religious tensions prevailed: the south-east of the Low Countries in the 16th century. Mercator’s life therefore had many setbacks, including his imprisonment and the loss of 3 of his 5 children. Nevertheless, he became proficient in all facets of map making: geographical knowledge, surveying techniques and map design and engraving. He produced both large-scale and small-scale maps, world maps and atlases. In addition, he made (earth) globes and surveying instruments. His life, studies and work are described chronologically. His predecessors are also discussed: in particular, the geographers from classical antiquity who inspired him during his studies and work. His two greatest achievements receive special attention: his world map from 1569 with a projection named after him for navigation purposes and the “first” structured collection of maps in book form from 1585, for which he coined the term Atlas. Numerous renowned cartographers have subsequently elaborated on Mercator’s map projection and atlas. Even today, his projection is still used. He has thus shaped the worldview of countless people…

Developing a cartographic viewer for statistical data. Cartography is the science and technology of making maps. Its purpose is to visualize spatial related information. In ancient and medieval times cartography was often seen as a form of art and a way to express political and religious views. It gradually evolved into an “exact” information and communication science. As geographers describe the earth, cartographers visualize it. A map is a graphical representation of the earth and its spatial features; an atlas is a systematic collection of maps in book form. An e-atlas is an electronic or digital atlas. After years of gaining knowledge and experience in the fields of cartography and computer science (particularly programming), it was time to integrate things. The aim was to demonstrate that you can create thematic maps with simple (and free) programming tools. The choice fell on JavaScript, a “simple” programming language that is available to everyone and can be run directly under standard web browsers from Google and Microsoft, among others. All you need is a text editor to type in the instructions. I chose Notepad++: this is a free editor that, in contrast to the regular Notepad, displays the various elements and structures of a program in different colors.

**Remote Sensing: how satellite images are made (1972-date) ** This concise presentation (16 pages) shows how satellite images are generated. It focuses on Landsat, the longest running project for earth observation. The entire process is explained: from the reflected sunbeams on the earth surface to the colours on the screen.

Ukraine in 40 historical maps: 1480-2020 (124 pages) NOTE: This atlas of Ukraine is free. Instead, you can of course always support the Red Cross in Ukraine with a donation. Thank you.

The 4th continent is named after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. The name America was introduced by the German cartographer Martin Waldseemuller. He wrongly assumed that Amerigo Vespucci - and not Columbus – had been the first European who discovered the new western continent. The name appeared for the first time on his famous world map published in 1507. The printed wall map was lost for a long time; the only survived copy was found in Schloss Wolfegg, in southern Germany in 1901. The map, also called the “birth-certificate of America”, was purchased by the Library of Congress in 2003. The (eastern) coastline of America was drawn much more accurate on the world map of Ribero in 1527. The first separately printed map (pocket version) of the new continent (the Americas) was included in Sebastian Munster’s encyclopaedia (1540 onwards). The first (printed) separate maps of North America appeared in the mid 16th century. At first they were small overview maps in pocket atlases, e.g. by Italian cartographer Porcacchi. Numerous large (atlas) maps made by famous cartographers would follow: e.g. Jansson (Netherlands), Sanson (France), Moll (England) and Lotter (Germany).

The 4th continent is named after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. The name America was introduced by the German cartographer Martin Waldseemuller. He wrongly assumed that Amerigo Vespucci - and not Columbus – had been the first European who discovered the new western continent. The name appeared for the first time on his famous world map published in 1507. The printed wall map was lost for a long time; the only survived copy was found in Schloss Wolfegg, in southern Germany in 1901. The map, also called the “birth-certificate of America”, was purchased by the Library of Congress in 2003. The (eastern) coastline of America was drawn much more accurate on the world map of Ribero in 1527. The first separately printed map (pocket version) of the new continent (the Americas) was included in Sebastian Munster’s encyclopaedia (1540 onwards). The first (printed) separate maps of South America appeared in the mid 16th century. At first they were small overview maps in pocket atlases, e.g. by Italian cartographers Gastaldi and Ruscelli. Numerous large (atlas) maps made by famous cartographers would follow: e.g. Gutierrez/Cock (Belgium), Jansson (Netherlands), Sanson (France) and Lotter (Germany).

The name Asia comes from Semitic, an old language from which the current Arabic, Hebrew and Maltese languages, among others, are derived. It refers to the word asu, which means “rising of the sun”. (Western) Asia was already described by classical Greek scholars; e.g. Ptolemy in his Geographia (150AD). The accompanying (world) maps were worked out again by European cartographers at the end of the 15th century. It is also depicted on the T-O based Mappa Mundi of the middle ages, being one of the 3 then known ‘old’ continents (besides Africa and Europe). During the Middle Ages, as the Europeans increased their knowledge and awareness of the size of the Asian continent, they progressively extended the name of Asia to the rest of the continent. Waldseemuller’s large map of 1507 - being partly based on Ptolemy’s ideas and new discoveries - was one of the first printed world maps depicting the whole continent, including the far eastern coastline. The first ‘complete’ maps of Asia were still largely based on the voyages of discovery that the Venetian merchant Marco Polo had made between 1271 and 1295 to the Far East. The first (printed) separate maps of Asia appeared in the mid 16th century. At first they were small overview maps in pocket atlases. Numerous large atlas maps made by famous cartographers would follow: e.g. Lafreri (Italy), Mercator (Belgium), Speed (England), Sanson (France), Blaeu (Netherlands) and Homann (Germany).

The name **Africa **may be derived from the Phoenician word afar, meaning “dust”. The name Africa Terra (“Land of the dust”) was introduced by the ancient Romans to identify the northern part of the continent that corresponds to modern-day Tunisia. (Northern) Africa was already described by classical Greek scholars; e.g. Ptolemy in his Geographia (150AD). The accompanying (world) maps were worked out again by European cartographers at the end of the 15th century. It is also depicted on the T-O based Mappa Mundi of the middle ages, being one of the 3 then known ‘old’ continents (besides Asia and Europe). During the Middle Ages, as the Europeans increased their knowledge and awareness of the size of the African continent, they progressively extended the name of Africa to the rest of the continent. Waldseemuller’s large map of 1507 - being partly based on Ptolemy’s ideas and new discoveries - was one of the first world maps depicting the whole continent, including the South-African coastline. On the earlier world map of Martellus (1490) the southern part was truly out of shape; on Cantino’s portolan chart (1502) it was corrected on account of information provided by Portuguese explorers. The first (printed) separate maps of Africa appeared in the mid 16th century. At first they were small overview maps in pocket atlases. Numerous large atlas maps made by famous cartographers would follow: e.g. Lafreri (Italy), Mercator (Belgium), Speed (England), Sanson (France), Blaeu (Netherlands) and Homann (Germany).

Greenland in 42 historical maps: 1554-2018 (130 pages) The name of this largest island (country) was given by early Norse settlers. In the Icelandic sagas, the Norwegian-born Icelander Erik the Red was said to be exiled from Iceland for manslaughter. Along with his extended family and his serfs, he set out in ships to explore an icy land known to lie to the northwest. After finding a habitable area and settling there, he named it Grœnland (Greenland), supposedly in the hope that the pleasant name would attract settlers. The name of the country in the indigenous Greenlandic language is Kalaallit Nunaat (“Land of the Kalaallit”). The Kalaallit are the indigenous Greenlandic Inuit people who inhabit the country’s western region. The first separate maps of the island/country already appeared at the end of the 16th century. However, parts of its coastline (especially to the North) weren’t based on true observations but purely fictionally drawn. It would last until the end of the 19th century before the complete coastline was actually charted.

Surinam in 35 historical maps: 1522-2018 (116 pages) The name Surinam comes from Surinen people, the earliest known native American inhabitants of the region. From 1667 till 1975 the country was a colony of The Netherlands. It had been governed by the WIC (West Indies Company), the counterpart of the VOC (Dutch East Indies Company). On some antique maps the name Dutch Guyana is used to identify the colony/country and distinguish it from the neighbouring areas British Guyana (to the West) and French Guyana (to the East). Maps of the south-American region Guyana already appeared at the end of the 16th century. Separate (printed) maps of Surinam, mostly made by Dutch cartographers in service of the WIC, appeared in the early 18th century.