The earliest known representation of Scotland in map form is by Claudius Ptolemaeus (known as Ptolemy) who lived between c.90 and c.150 A.D.
There followed a period of little development in mapping Scotland until the 17th century when Forlani published the first printed map of Scotland separate from England in 1564.
From the 1580s onwards men such as Timothy Pont created detailed accounts of the Northeast providing information almost unrivalled elsewhere at that time.
This led to the wave of accurate maps in the 18th century as the Estates in the area began producing their own, and the Military Survey in the shape of Roy in 1750 began their work.
By the 19th century national support led to the creation of the Ordnance Survey and the Hydrographic Office of the Admiralty, and with it the usage of standard scales and symbols led to the emergence of the modern maps we see today. Click on the links on the left hand navigation bar to take you to the historical maps that are available online.
