which way up?

[cheekodoode]

ok here's my question which may prove to have a simple and even obvious answer but here goes: who or what decided which way up we view the earth? all maps ive seen show the earth north upward, even maps from times many years in the past still seem to show the top of the map as north??? also maps from different locations and civilizations??

[PhilLew]

Ok this is just a guess but how about in the days when we still thought the Earth was flat, most of the developed (map drawing) countries were in the northern hemisphire and so would naturaly asume they were on the top of a flat world, or they would fall off ! and as our knowledge of the planet grew the flat maps of the north devoloped into the globe we have today. Or maybe it just made sence to draw a map facing the direction that a compass pointed. By the way you can get road maps that read south to north so you dont have to read place names or follow roads upside down if you are traveling north, designed for woman drivers I think!

[darth vader]

what a totally brilliant question! I have absolutely no idea but will ask my wife who is a teacher and can ask at work