Cartography of India

The Iron Pillar of Delhi.
History of science and
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The cartography of India begins with early charts for navigation[1] and constructional plans for buildings.[2] Indian traditions influenced Tibetan[3] and Islamic traditions,[4] and in turn, were influenced by the British cartographers who solidified modern concepts into India's map making.[5]

A prominent foreign geographer and cartographer was Hellenistic geographer Ptolemy (90–168) who researched at the library in Alexandria to produce a detailed eight-volume record of world geography.[5] During the Middle Ages, India sees some exploration by Chinese and Muslim geographers, while European maps of India remain very sketchy. A prominent medieval cartographer was Persian geographer Abu Rayhan Biruni (973–1048) who visited India and studied the country's geography extensively.[6]

European maps become more accurate with the Age of Exploration and Portuguese India from the 16th century. The first modern maps were produced by the Survey of India, established in 1767 by the British East India Company. The Survey of India remains in continued existence as the official mapping authority of the Republic of India.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sircar3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Gole (1990)
  3. ^ Sircar, 329
  4. ^ Pinto (2006)
  5. ^ a b Fuechsel (2008)
  6. ^ O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "Abu Arrayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni", MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive, University of St Andrews