Development of the Map Representation of the Nepal Himalaya Up to the End of Nineteenth Century

Historical cartography is an important source of data on the early periods of exploration of the Himalayan natural environment. The chapter provides an overview of the development of Himalayan mapping. Twenty old maps have been analysed. The Greeks plotted the Himalaya as a barrier of mountains designated as Imaus monsImaus mons or Emodi montesEmodi montes. Medieval circular maps present a string or waves of mountains. Greek names were adopted, among others, by the Dutch, and the cartographer A. Ortelius added the name DalangerDalanger–Dalanguer, Dalanguer mons. An entirely new image of the high mountains was presented by J. B. d’Anville in 1733 on his map of TibetTibet-Tibet Autonomous Region. His work was an inspiration for other representatives of French, German and Austrian cartography. In 1788, J. Rennell marked the mountains as HimmalehHimma leh–Himmaleh, Himma-leh. In 1802, geodetic triangulation of the Indian PeninsulaIndian Peninsula began, and the mountain peaks were measured remotely across the borders. Since the nineteenth century, the Himalaya has been depicted by hachures. Special maps of the Himalaya were published in German atlases. In the second half of the nineteenth century, Peak XVPeak XV was namedM Everest Mount EverestMount Everest. Triangulation was completed in 1863 by J. T. Walker. Other cartographic representations to be found in the summary table.