World History, Grades 9-12

SKILLBUILDERHANDBOOKR25

3.4 Interpreting Maps

MAPSare representations of features on the earth’s surface. Historians use maps to

locate historical events, to show how geography has influenced history, and to illus-
trate human interaction with the environment.

Different kinds of maps are used for specific purposes.

POLITICAL MAPSshow political units, from countries, states, and provinces, to coun-

ties, districts, and towns. Each area is shaded a different color.

PHYSICAL MAPSshow mountains, hills, plains, rivers, lakes, and oceans. They may

use contour lines to indicate elevations on land and depths under water.

HISTORICAL MAPSillustrate such things as economic activity, political alliances,

land claims, battles, population density, and changes over time.

Section 3:Exploring Evidence: Print, Visual, Technology Sources

Compass Rose The compass rose is a feature indicating the map’s

orientation on the globe. It may show all four cardinal directions

(N, S, E, W) or just indicate north.

LocatorA locator map shows which part of the world the map

subject area covers.

ScaleThe scale shows the ratio between a unit of length on the map

and a unit of distance on the earth. The maps in this book usually

show the scale in miles and kilometers.

LinesLines indicate rivers and other waterways, political boundaries,

roads, and routes of exploration or migration.

Legend or KeyThe legend or key explains the symbols, lines, and

special colors that appear on the map.

SymbolsLocations of cities and towns often appear as dots. A capital

city is often shown as a star or as a dot with a circle around it. Picture

symbols might be used to indicate an area’s products, resources, and

special features.

LabelsKey places such as cities, bodies of water, and landforms

are labeled. Key dates, such as those for the founding of cities,

may also be labeled.

ColorsMaps use colors and shading for various purposes. On

physical maps, color may be used to indicate different physical

regions or altitudes. On political maps, color can distinguish different

political units. On specialty maps, color can show variable features

such as population density, languages, or cultural areas.

InsetAn inset is a small map that appears within a larger map. It

often shows an area of the larger map in greater detail. Inset maps

may also show a different area that is in some way related to the

area shown on the larger map.

Lines of Latitude and LongitudeLines of latitude and longitude

appear on maps to indicate the absolute location of the area shown.

• Lines of latitude show distance measured in degrees north or
  south of the equator.


• Lines of longitude show distance measured in degrees east or west
  of the prime meridian, which runs through Greenwich, England.

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Australia and New

Zealand to 1848

Albany, 1827 Melbourne, 1835

Adelaide,

1836

Russell, 1829

Wellington,

1840

Auckland, 1840

New Plymouth, 1841

Nelson, 1841

Dunedin, 1848

Brisbane,

1824

Newcastle,

1804

Sydney, 1788

Hobart, 1804

Launceston, 1804

Port Phillip, 1803

MurrayR.

Darl

ingR

.

Bass Strait

Great Australian

Bight

INDIAN

OCEAN

PACIFIC

OCEAN

Coral

Sea

Tasman

Sea

North I. L. Eyre

Tasmania

South

I.

GREAT

SANDY DESERT

SIMPSONDESERT

GREAT VICTORIA

DESERT

GIBSON DESERT

GR

EA

TD

IVI

DIN

GR

ANG

E

DA

RLI

NG

RA.

AUSTRALIA

NEW

ZEALAND

New Zealand1,300 miles

130

°E

120

°E

110

°E

140

°E

150

°E

20 °S

30 °S

40 °S

40 °S

170

°E

Tropic of Capricorn

0 500 Miles

0 1,000 Kilometers

0 200 Miles

0 500 Kilometers

Desert

Grassland

Savanna

Rain forest

Mediterranean

Woodlands

Densest Aborigine

or Maori populations,

around 1770

Date of European

settlement

Climate Regions

1

3

4

5

6

7

(^98)

10

2