Depending on who is asked, the definition of what exactly a map is can vary greatly. The answer to "what is a map?" that one is most likely to receive is the narrow definition given by most dictionaries or textbooks on cartography, " An accurate depiction of the earth's surface or part of it at a reduced scale and mathematical projection showing geographical fact." The Oxford English dictionary is slightly broader in its definition, "A representation of the earth's surface or part of it, its physical and political features, etc., or of the heavens, delineated on a flat surface of paper or other material, each point in the drawing corresponding to a geographical or celestial position according to a definite scale or projection." This still leaves out a large portion of all depictions of the earth or parts thereof. For example, most if not all prehistoric, ancient and medieval maps were not drawn to any particular scale or projection. It also leaves out a huge portion of thematic maps that only use the earth's surface as a frame. Maps contain and are more than the simple definition found in a dictionary. To obtain a fuller definition of what a map is we need to better understand for what purpose, why and for whom maps are and were produced.

"Maps are human documents, artifacts, with all the limitations and interesting qualities which those terms imply. Maps are not natural, self-evident ‘statements of geographical fact produced by neutral technologies'. The hand of the mapmaker is guided by a mind located in a certain time and place and sharing inevitably the prejudices of his or her surroundings."

J. B. Harley and D. Woodward; History of Cartography 1987(Evelyn Edson: Mapping Time and Space: 1997)

"Maps are more than statements of geographical fact; they are products of human ingenuity. They have been made since human pre-history to represent concepts of humanity’s place in the world and cosmos. They have been made by imperial states as tools of power and by individuals as aids to intellectual understanding. Maps are engraved in rocks, sketched in sand, painted on parchment, printed on paper, and elicited from the pixels of the computer monitor. They do not just show the world. they show our conception of what the world ought to be."

Matthew H. Edney,Maps: Knowledge, Technology, Society, Culture ( University of Southern Maine, Fall 1998)

Maps are depictions of the earth's surface scaled and un-scaled with or without a defined projection, limited in content to the extent of technology and the knowledge, wish and, or wants of the cartographer or person or the purpose for which the maps were produced.

Maps are used as tools to convey all sorts of information, the list is endless: political, historical, topographic, ethnic, religious, economic and military to name but a few. Today we often think of maps only as tools for navigating from one point on the world's surface to another. If we stop and look at all the maps that we are bombarded with every day we can see that maps are much more than navigational tools. They are used by advertisers, governments, journalists, academics and everyday people etc., for a myriad of reasons. Maps have an great visual power capable of conveying information with incredible authority whether real or illusionary.

"The medieval world map (Mappae Mundi) conveyed little useful information for the traveler, it wished to convey the beauty and clarity of God's world, as described in the psalms "Nach Zahl, Gewicht und Maß hast Du alles geschaffen." For this reason Jerusalem is placed in the centre with the rest of the world divided in the continents Asia, Europe and Africa, showing the settling of the world through Noah's sons; Sem, Japhet and Cham. The map emphasises the reach of God's work by showing that the graves of the apostles can be found in the farthest corners of the World, as stated in Gospels 1:8 “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Thomas Frenz, Einführung in die Historischen Hilfswissenschaften, Universität Passau (Wintersemester 2002)