Cartography Expert Prshant Lahoti Traces Seven Centuries of Map-Making Evolution

Map collector and curator Prshant Lahoti presented a history of cartography spanning seven centuries at Hyderabad's Kalakriti Art Gallery. Speaking during an 'Mapping Memory' talk for Hyderabad Art Week, Lahoti discussed the evolution from early Indian cosmography and pilgrim maps to modern Google maps. He explained that maps historically reflected the beliefs of mapmakers rather than literal geography, shaped heavily by the evolution of printing technology.

Lahoti detailed how global trade historically drove geographical mapping, noting that cartographers relied on travelers' accounts and imagination rather than direct travel. He cited historical milestones, such as Dutch spy Jan Huygen van Linschoten exposing secret Portuguese maps to alter world trade history. These shifts demonstrated how maps transformed fundamentally as their underlying purposes changed over time.

Editor's note: Solid encapsulation of Prshant Lahoti's cartography talk spanning seven centuries.