Cartography and the Renaissance

Cartography and the Renaissance

Return to K-12 Educational Resources


Grade Levels: 6-12

Time Allotment: 50 to 60 minutes

Maine Social Studies Standards: D1, E1

This lesson compares maps made in the Middle Ages to maps made during the Renaissance to illustrate the widespread alterations in European thought. The activity to follow the presentation features fictional journal entries from major mapmakers through history. Students must match the mapmakers with their cartographic creations.

Click on the links below to download resources:


DownloadItem Files

This folder contains images of all items used in this lesson. To view the available items in zoomify, click on the links below:

7335 Image  Ptolemaic Map of the World Portolan Chart of Mediterranean  Renaissance Map of the World by Rosaccio 

238 Image  262 Image  Blaeu Map of the World with Planetary Orbits depicted


DownloadPresentation Files

This folder contains a powerpoint (.ppt) file of the completed presentation, as well as a suggested script in both .pdf and .doc formats.

Trouble Downloading?  Click on the thumbnails below to try downloading each file individually:

PPT Presentation

PDF Suggested Script w/ Images


DownloadActivity Files

This folder contains a .pdf file of the activity accompanying this lesson and any necessary documents and answer keys.

Trouble Downloading?  Click on the thumbnails below to try downloading each file individually:

PDF Renaissance Mythology Activity


Suggested Reading

Ross, Val. The Road to There: Mapmakers and Their Stories. 2009.