The Map of Bangladesh
Maps have been an essential tool for humans to understand the world around them. Bangladesh, a country in South Asia, is no exception. The first maps of Bangladesh were created by explorers and cartographers who documented their journeys and observations. These maps were essential for navigation and trade, as well as for military planning.
Ancient Maps: The Ptolemaic Worldview
The Ptolemaic worldview, named after the ancient Greek astronomer Ptolemy, was the prevailing view of the world for many centuries. Ptolemy’s maps were based on the idea that the earth was a flat disk with the Mediterranean Sea at its center. The rest of the world was represented as a series of circles or spheres surrounding the Mediterranean. Maps based on the Ptolemaic worldview were not very accurate, but they were still useful for navigation and trade.
Early Bengali Cartography
The earliest known maps of Bangladesh were created by Bengali cartographers in the 16th century. These maps were often hand-drawn on paper or cloth and used for trade and navigation. The Bengali cartographers used a variety of symbols to represent features such as rivers, mountains, and towns.
European Exploration and Mapping
European explorers began to visit Bangladesh in the 16th century, and they created maps of the region. These maps were often based on earlier Bengali maps but were more detailed and accurate. The European maps also included information about the climate, flora, and fauna of the region.
East India Company Surveys
The East India Company, which controlled Bengal from the late 18th century until the mid-19th century, conducted surveys of the region to create more detailed and accurate maps. These maps were used by the British government for administrative purposes and by traders for navigation and trade.
Major James Rennell and British India
Major James Rennell was a British geographer who served in India in the late 18th century. He created detailed maps of Bengal and other parts of India. Rennell’s maps were based on surveys conducted by the East India Company and were some of the most accurate maps of the region at the time.
The Bengal Presidency and Survey of India
The Bengal Presidency, a British administrative division that included present-day Bangladesh, was responsible for mapping the region in the 19th century. The Survey of India, established in 1767, was responsible for creating maps of British India. The maps created by the Survey of India were some of the most accurate and detailed maps of the region at the time.
Sir William Wilson Hunter and the Imperial Gazetteer
Sir William Wilson Hunter was a British civil servant who served in India in the late 19th century. He was responsible for creating the Imperial Gazetteer of India, a comprehensive guide to British India. The Imperial Gazetteer included detailed maps of the region, including present-day Bangladesh.
Bengal Renaissance and Mapmaking
The Bengal Renaissance, a cultural and intellectual movement in Bengal in the 19th and early 20th centuries, led to the development of modern mapmaking in the region. Bengali cartographers began to use modern techniques such as lithography and printing to create more accurate and detailed maps.
The First Modern Map of Bangladesh
The first modern map of Bangladesh was created in 1947, when the British partitioned India into two countries, India and Pakistan. The map was created by the Survey of India and showed the new border between East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) and West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan).
Conclusion: The Legacy of Mapmakers
The legacy of mapmakers in Bangladesh is rich and diverse. From early Bengali cartographers to modern mapmakers, each generation has built on the work of those who came before. Today, maps are essential tools for navigation, trade, and planning in Bangladesh.
Further Reading and Resources
- History of Cartography by J.B. Harley and David Woodward
- Mapping India: Transitions in the Early Modern Period by Matthew H. Edney
- Surveying and Mapping in Colonial Bengal by Sujit Sivasundaram
- The Imperial Gazetteer of India edited by Sir William Wilson Hunter
- The Bengal Renaissance and Other Essays by C.R. Das