Tell them apart

1.3.3 Cartographer's Studio — the 6 pairs that get mixed up

Most mix-ups happen when two words sit next to each other. These are the 6 pairs worth practicing apart. The 4 marked most confused are the ones the course itself flags, or that sit closest together.

Cover the right-hand column with your hand, read the left definition, and say which term it is out loud before you look. Then swap sides.

most confused
satellite image

A picture from orbit. Useful raw material.

vs
map

A picture a person made, choosing what to show. Satellites do not replace that person.

How to tellPage 1. Orbit helps. Humans still make the map.
most confused
15th–16th century leap

Age of exploration. Columbus 1492, Piri Reis 1513, Mercator 1569 sit here.

vs
20th century leap

Technology boom. Robinson 1963 sits here. Computers and GIS follow.

How to tellThe lesson's two jump periods, not a smooth slope.
most confused
Ptolemy (150)

Latitude and longitude. Known world of Europe, Africa, Asia. No Americas.

vs
Airy (1851)

Prime meridian at Greenwich, London. The zero line for longitude.

How to tellPtolemy gave places numbers. Airy gave everyone the same starting line.
most confused
Mercator (1569)

Cylindrical sailor's map. Compass course is straight. Poles stretch. Greenland looks huge.

vs
Robinson (1963)

Compromise oval. A little stretch everywhere so nothing looks extreme.

How to tellYou already met both families in 1.3.1. Now they also have dates and jobs.
Marco Polo (1298)

Traveler and writer. Added Asia facts. Not mainly a map drawer.

vs
Piri Reis (1513)

Compiler. Put many older maps, including Columbus, onto one chart.

How to tellOne brings observations home. The other draws them together.
computer GIS map

Current trend: databases and software.

vs
hand-drawn map

Still made and used. The lesson says so on purpose.

How to tellBoth exist now. The person is still in the chair.