colonisation exploration military use and map making important points
Answers
When European powers
colonised the entire continents
like North and South Americas,
Africa, Australia and Asia they
needed to know about the places,
their climate, crops, mineral
resources and about the people
living there. They sent scientific
expeditions consisting of map makers and
others to explore the different parts of the
world and prepare maps. These teams
fought their way into interiors of
continents crossing mountains, deserts and
rivers, fighting local peoples to get the
necessary information. This information
and the maps enabled the colonial powers
to establish their rule over these areas and
also exploit their resources. When the British established their
power in India, they began making detailed
maps of the interiors of the country. They
established a department called ‘Survey of
India’ to survey the entire country and
prepare maps. James Rennel was appointed
the ‘Surveyor General’ and he prepared one
of the first survey based maps of India.
Look at the map of India (Map 8) created
during the British period and compare it
with a current map.
In 1802 William Lambton began one
of the most important geographical surveys
in the world starting from Chennai in the
south and culminating in the Himalayas to
determine the length of a longitude and also
the heights of various places. This survey
was completed by Sir George Everest. It is
this survey which established that Mt
Everest is the highest peak in the world (it
was named after George Everest who
measured its height for the first time using
scientific methods). The survey began in
Chennai because all heights are measured
from the sea level.
Maps were also in great demand during
times of war as armies and air forces
needed them. Thus map making received
great impetus during the first two World
Wars. Many governments tried to keep such
detailed maps secret so that enemies could
not use them.
Answer:
Reading and analysis of maps