Cassini maps French cartography

1 cassini maps

1.1 introduction
1.2 purpose
1.3 survey maps

cassini maps

in france, first general maps of territory using measuring apparatus made cassini family during 18th century on scale of 1:86,400 (one centimeter on chart corresponds approximately 864 meters on ground). these maps were, time, technical innovation. first maps based on geodetic triangulation, , took more fifty years complete; 4 generations of cassini family involved in production. these maps, known cassini maps or maps of academy, still referenced geographers, historians , genealogists.

the work of cassinis left mark on world; toponyms known cassini signs still exist, revealing triangulated measurements @ time made.

hand-drawn map of 1 side of valley of vesdre french geographers (led cassini family) 1745 1748

the map of cassini or map of academy first general map of kingdom of france. drawn cassini family—primarily césar-françois cassini de thury (cassini iii) , son jean-dominique cassini (cassini iv)—during 18th century. adopted scale 1 line 100 toises, or 1:86,400 (the measuring apparatus contained 864 lines).

the map not pinpoint dwellings or boundaries of marshes , forests; however, level of precision of road networks such satellite photographs correspond drawn roads more 200 years later.

this map still consulted today researchers. interests historians, in particular in fields of geography, genealogy , ecology.

introduction

map of french coast, corrected academy of science

the map of cassini first geometrical map covering entire kingdom of france. before surveys, necessary carry out triangulation of territory.

purpose

césar-françois cassini (cassini iii) began map:

to measure distances triangulation, ensuring exact positioning of locations
to measure kingdom, determining number of boroughs, cities , villages
to depict unchanging landscape features

survey maps

the surveys carried out between 1756 , 1789 , 181 sheets composing map published 1756 1815. césar-françois cassini died in 1784 work unfinished. son, jean-dominique cassini (1748–1845), later finished work of father.

the departments of savoy, haute-savoie , part of maritime alps not part of kingdom of france @ time, , not represented on map; neither Île d yeu , corsica. of map sheets published new edition in 1815.