People have long used maps, from scratching their worldviews on clay tablets thousands of years ago to people today creating sophisticated web-based maps to change their societies. Alongside nanotechnology and biotechnology, the White House touts mapping as one of the three most important industries of the 21^st century, and one that accounts annually for a trillion dollars of economic activity. Mapping is an essential form of inquiry across the arts, humanities, and sciences that uses geospatial technologies to gather data on people and places. Mapping technologies—ranging from the earliest forms of drawing on clay tablets to modern satellite imaging and sharing information on web-based social networks—spring from and play out in a social context, exemplifying the interplay of society and technology.

This book is about how to read, use, and create maps. Our exploration of maps will be informed by a contextual understanding of how maps reflect the relationship between society and technology, and how mapping is an essential form of scientific and artistic inquiry. We will also explore how mapping is used to address a variety of societal issues, such as land-use planning and political gerrymandering to selling yogurt. You will gain insight into the technical underpinnings of mapping as a scientific approach, complement on-going interest, and activities, or provide an applied focus for research or policy.

This chapter will introduce you to:

• Basic social and technical elements of maps
• A very short history of mapping
• Mapping and liberal education