What Is an Atlas History and Uses

An atlas is a collection of various maps of the earth or a specific region of the earth, such as the U.S. or Europe. The maps in atlases show geographic features, the topography of an areas landscape and political boundaries. They also show climatic, social, religious and economic statistics of an area. Maps that make up atlases are traditionally bound as books. These are either hardcover for reference atlases or softcover for atlases that are meant to serve as travel guides. There are also countless multimedia options for atlases, and many publishers are making their maps available for personal computers and the Internet. The History of the Atlas The use of maps and cartography to understand the world has a very long history. It is believed that the name atlas, meaning a collection of maps, came from the mythological Greek figure Atlas. Legend says that Atlas was forced to hold the earth and the heavens on his shoulders as a punishment from the gods. His image was often printed on books with maps and they eventually became known as atlases. The earliest known atlas is associated with the Greco-Roman geographer Claudius Ptolemy. His work,  Geographia,  was the first published book  of cartography, consisting of the knowledge of the  worlds geography that was known around the time of the second century. Maps and manuscripts were written by hand at the time. Geographias earliest surviving  publications date back to  1475.   The voyages of Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, and Amerigo Vespucci increased knowledge of the worlds geography in the late 1400s. Johannes Ruysch, a European cartographer and explorer, created a new map of the world in 1507 that became very popular. It was reprinted in a Roman edition of Geographia that year. Another edition of Geographia was published in 1513 and it connected North and South America.   The first modern atlas was printed in 1570  by Abraham Ortelius, a Flemish cartographer and geographer. It was called Theatrum Orbis Terrarum,  or Theater of the World. It was the first book of maps with images that were uniform in size and design. The first edition consisted of 70 different maps. Like Geographia, Theater of the World was extremely popular and it was printed in numerous editions from 1570 to 1724. In 1633, a Dutch cartographer and publisher named Henricus Hondius designed an ornately decorated world map that appeared in an edition of Flemish geographer Gerard Mercators atlas, originally published in 1595.   The works by Ortelius and Mercator are said to represent the beginning of the Golden Age of Dutch cartography. This is the period when atlases grew in popularity and became more modern. The Dutch continued to produce many volumes of atlases throughout the 18th century, while cartographers in other parts of Europe also began to print their works. The French and British began to produce more maps in the late 18th century, as well as sea atlases because of their increased maritime and trade activities. By the 19th century, atlases began to get very detailed. They looked at specific areas such as cities instead of whole countries and/or regions of the world. With the advent of modern printing techniques, the number of atlases published also began to increase. Technological advances such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have allowed modern atlases to include thematic maps that show various statistics of an area. Types of Atlases Because of the wide variety of data and technologies available today, there are many different types of atlases. The most common are desk or reference atlases, and travel atlases or roadmaps. Desk atlases are hardcover or paperback, but theyre made like reference books and they include a variety of information about the areas they cover.   Reference atlases are generally large and include maps, tables, graphs and other images and text to describe an area. They can be made to show the world, specific countries, states or even specific locations such as a national park. The National Geographic Atlas of the World includes information about the entire globe, broken down into sections that discuss the human world and the natural world. These sections include the topics of geology, plate tectonics, biogeography, and political and economic geography. The atlas then breaks the world down into continents, oceans and major cities to show political and physical maps of the continents as a whole and the countries within them. This is a very large and detailed atlas, but it serves as a perfect reference for the world with its many detailed maps as well as images, tables, graphs, and text. The  Atlas of Yellowstone is similar to the National Geographic Atlas of the World but its less extensive.  This, too, is a reference atlas, but instead of examining the entire world, it looks at a very specific area. Like the larger world atlas, it includes information on the human, physical and biogeography of the Yellowstone region. It offers a variety of maps that show areas within and outside of Yellowstone National Park. Travel atlases and roadmaps are usually paperback and are sometimes spiral bound to make them easier to handle while traveling. They often do not include all the information that a reference atlas would, but instead focus on information that may be useful to travelers, such as specific road or highway networks, the locations of parks or other tourist spots, and, in some cases, the locations of specific stores and/or hotels. The many different types of multimedia atlases available can be used for reference and/or travel. They contain the same types of information youd find in book format. Popular Atlases The  National Geographic Atlas of the World  is a very popular reference atlas for the wide variety of information it contains. Other popular reference atlases include Goodes World Atlas,  developed by John Paul Goode  and published by Rand McNally, and the National Geographic Concise Atlas of the World.  Goodes World Atlas is popular in college geography classes because it includes a variety of world and regional maps that show topography and political boundaries. It also includes detailed information about the climatic, social, religious and economic statistics of the worlds countries. Popular travel atlases include Rand McNally road atlases and Thomas Guide road atlases. These are very specific to areas such as the U.S., or even to states and cities. They include detailed road maps that also show points of interest to aid in travel and navigation. Visit National Geographics MapMaker Interactive  website to  view an interesting and interactive online atlas.

The Impact Of Technology On College Students Learning...

Contribution of Technology in College Students’ Learning and Thinking Farwa Javed City College of New York December 11, 2014 Professor Deidre Anglin Abstract: Many researches have been done to determine the positive and negative effects of technology in a person’s live in this Information age. This particular study was performed to find out the contribution of technology on a college student’s learning and thinking. The purpose of the study was to determine if the technology used in classroom has positive influence on a college student or it diverts student’s attention. While doing this study few other factors were also under investigation, which impact students such as save time to invest in other daily life chores, manage classroom activities, convenience and increase interest in subject. This correlation study was performed on 56 participants by using a survey questionnaire and randomly distributed among three undergraduate psychology classes at City College of New York, a law class at Touro College and posted on wall of personal Facebook account, which has only college students in friends list. After runn ing the analysis on responses received on survey questionnaire, it was concluded that students prefer technology use in classroom as it benefits them by saving their time, managing class activities in a one section, helping improve their test scores, its convenient and most importantly they show interest inShow MoreRelatedThe Impact Of Internet On Education1517 Words   |  7 PagesThe Impacts of Internet on Education The Internet is modern technologies that people just invented in recent decades. Since computers became more popular in the 1980s, the Internet was followed and was created in the 1990s. The invention of this technology affects everyone in many countries. 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American Dream Compare/Contrast Great Gatsby And Citizen Kane Essay Example For Students

American Dream: Compare/Contrast Great Gatsby And Citizen Kane Essay The United States of America is the most powerful, wealthy, and attractive country in the world. The varieties of class, individuality, religion, and race are a few of the enrichments within the melting pot of our society. The blend of these numerous diversities is the crucial ingredient to our modern nation. Even though America has been formed upon these diversities, its inhabitants- the average American- have a single thing in common; a single idea; a single goal; the American Dream. The Dream consists of a seemingly simple concept; success. Americans dream of a successful marriage, family, successful job, and own a Victorian-style home with a white picket fence and an oak tree with a swing tire in the front yard. The accessories add to the package according to the individuality of the American Dream. And, perhaps along with the melting pot includes the entangled extremes of each Americans dream; the degree of the Dream is now ambiguous in terms of boundaries. Perhaps the American Dream varies for the individual as the individual varies. Charles Foster Kane possessed everything the materialistic man could hope for. Kane had more money than he could count, power, a successful job, women at the crook of his arm, and expensive possessions some men would go to the extremes to have. Yet, Charles constantly had a vast void within him. The most important element Kane lacked was the single thing he couldnt have; that was love. You wont get lonely, Charles Youll be the richest man in the world someday. Kanes mother and father try to use the image of money as collateral for giving him up. Charles experienced a great deal of loss in his early childhood. The traumatizing emotions of insecurity and disposition caused by his moving away from home are the roots of Charles agonizing yearn to be loved. Sadly, Charles didnt have a long bond from his mother, but he loved her; Charles mother never loved her son. Ive had his trunk packed for a week now. Charles mother had his trunk ready ahead of time in anxiousness for him to leave. She signed the contracts without any hesitation and showed no signs of emotion in her stone face. Charles unreturned love creates a sense of fear and hesitation to love something, only to experience abandonment again. Ironically, even though Charles becomes the richest man in the world, he also becomes the loneliest man in the world; despite all his possessions, power, and potential, Charles didnt posses the single element that became vital to his self-worth; love Inevitably, Charles foster Kane becomes the rich man everyone predicted he would be. In responses to the letter sent to Charles offering numerous businesses to own, he writes his disinterest in all of the sure-money businesses except the New York Inquirer. I think it would be fun to run a newspaper. Charles absence of seriousness in the awareness of the gross profit conveys his carelessness about money. Instead of running a mining company and gaining a definite profit, he chooses to run the Inquirer because it would be fun. Charles conveys his carefree emotions about his money and concentrates more on his own personal enjoyment. At a million dollars a year, Ill have to retire in sixty years. Charles snickers at the rate of his money loss and again he shows no interest in his mass money, his only interest is in keeping himself busy and happy something he cannot maintain. So were bust. Just give me the paper so I can sign it and go home. Even after learning that the Inquirer had to be shut down because of lack of money, Charles signs the paper as if its only value was his ticket home. Throughout the reporters interview with Mr. Bernstein, many clues to the Rosebud mystery were revealed but never deciphered. Maybe this Rosebud maybe its something he lost. Mr. Kane was a man who lost almost everything. In addition to Mr. Bernsteins statement, Charles Foster Kane was a man who had everything- according to by-standers- but at the same time, he had nothing- according to close relations. Charles Foster Kane possessed everything, materialistically, ones heart desires. But, in a different aspect, Charles Foster Kane had nothing. He married for love. Thats why he did everything. Thats all he ever really wanted was love. He just didnt have any to give. Love; the single thing Charles wanted, and needed, but could never grasp because he was incapable of loving someone else. In his battle to be elected governor, Kanes primary campaign idea was formed to benefit the underpaid and the underprivileged. His efforts to benefit the lower-class citizens seem to create of compensate for his early childhood deprivations. Absurdity Of Catch-22 Through Comedy EssayJay Gatsby held enormous social gatherings at his immaculate mansion, but he didnt usually socialize. The parties seemed to bring the mansion to life; the only life it sees, for Gatsby lives alone and lonely. Even though the guests come to his parties, Gatsby, no matter how many people try to exchange some insight with him, is still detached from the crowd. As the drinks run dry and the gossip grows old, guests disperse and once again the mansion becomes a lifeless structure tailored with elegant details. A sudden emptiness seemed to flow now from the windows and the great doors, endowing with complete isolation the figure of the host who stood on the porch, his hand up in a formal gesture of farewell. Gatsbys isolation in the doorway portrays his solidarity in life. The only ray of sunshine in Jay Gatsbys life is a woman whom he has loved for a great while. Daisy Buchanan completed Gatsbys dream. Simply her presence satisfied his burning hunger for a sense of love and belonging. it couldnt be over-dreamed- that voice was a deathless song. Jay Gatsbys embellishment on the simple things such as Daisys voice conveys his hopeless love for her. If only he could have Daisy, his wealthy life could then be rich. Much like Charles Kane, love is the only element that could fill the lingering emptiness withing their souls. Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay. Gatsbys infatuation with Daisy grows into perspective as we learn that he bought his mansion purely to be within sights distance of his love. Gatsby would look at the green light at the end of Daisys dock every night as if it were her. If it wasnt for the mist, we could see your home across the bay. You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock. The burning green light symbolizes Gatsbys burning desire for Daisy, but the mist of reality blocks his view. The light is just out of Gatsbys vision, as if Daisy were just out of his grasp. Daisy, much like Susan Alexander, always convinced herself that she knew what she really wanted out of life. Daisy, being married to Tom Buchanan, had more than enough money and all the luxuries anyone could imagine, but she seemed discontent with what she had. Unhappy, Daisy ventures to try and find something she doesnt share with Tom; love. In her search, she realizes that Gatsby could fulfill her emotional emptiness. Daisys face was smeared with tears and when I came in Gatsby was literally glowing. Realizing Gatsbys feelings, Daisy cried for joy, and perhaps she also cries out of sadness, for she always subliminally knew she could never be with Jay. As Daisy gains more of Jay Gatsbys affection, he marriage becomes unstable, and scared to lose her materialistic things in life, she turns back to Tom. Daisy knows she cannot have both. Even though her marriage with Tom does not consist of love, it is stable. Daisy, conscious of this stability, stays with what she feels secure, ignoring the bond she has formed with Jay. Similar to Susan Alexander, when Daisy Buchanan finally achieves what she thought she needed in her life, she returns to what she had before. But for Daisy, she returned to aristocracy and Susan returned to a more subtle, ordinary lifestyle where she could blend with society as Susan Alexander, not as an aristocrat. Along with the ingredients of the melting pot are the jumbled ideas of the American Dream. Is there only one Dream? Perhaps it is simply happiness. No matter if its money, love, security or a palace, a snow sled, or a green light, whatever it may be that fills the blank space in your heart, the Dream will create a sense of absolute contentment within yourself. As for some of us, simple, unconditional things can fill those blanks, and for others, possessions may occupy them, but the unbounded span of the Dream includes the unbounded span of the individual American.