Mercator’s map emerged from golden age of discovery
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In the 16th century, Gerardus Mercator, a Flemish cartographer, created a map projection that became widely used by sailors because it displayed sailing direction as a straight line.
A recent vote by the United Nations General Assembly highlighted the enduring impact of Mercator’s projection alongside the adoption of a new world map using the Equal Earth projection. During the 16th century, a period of significant global exploration fueled a golden age of mapmaking.
European traders had known of China, India, Persia, and parts of central Asia for centuries. By Mercator’s time, they also understood the outlines of much of Africa, South America, and southern and eastern Asia. However, large portions of the world remained unknown to Europeans. Dr. Dušan Petrovič notes that assessing the accuracy of old maps can be difficult. The Mercator projection's importance stemmed from its practicality for navigation during a time when seafaring trade routes were expanding rapidly.
