Modern methods of transportation, the use of surveillance aircraft, and more recently the availability of satellite imagery have made documentation of many areas possible that were previously inaccessible. Mercator was also the first to use and popularise the concept of the atlas as a collection of maps. The Mercator projection, developed by Flemish geographer Gerardus Mercator, was widely used as the standard two-dimensional projection of the earth for world maps until the late 20th century, when more accurate projections were formulated. In their most simple form maps are two dimensional constructs, however since the age of Classical Greece, maps have also been projected onto a three-dimensional sphere known as a globe. The earliest surviving maps include cave paintings and etchings on tusk and stone, followed by extensive maps produced by ancient Babylon, Greece and Rome, China, and India. Maps have been one of the most important human inventions for millennia, allowing humans to explain and navigate their way through the world. ![]() ![]() The history of cartography traces the development of cartography, or mapmaking technology, in human history. ![]() Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points.
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