Chartology

/kɑːrˈtɒlədʒi/ noun

Definition

The study of maps, charts, and their historical development, characteristics, and uses.

Etymology

From chart (Old French carte) + -ology (from Greek logos meaning 'study or science'). This term creates a framework for treating chart-study as an academic discipline.

Kelly Says

Chartology is a real but rare field that combines history, geography, and art history—scholars study how medieval mapmakers imagined the world, revealing what people believed about Earth centuries ago.

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