The impact of explorations and the discoveries was maximum on the art of map making. But the first world map that shows America as a separate continent and not the eastern part of Asia was drawn by Martin Waldseemuller in 1507. He also made use of the name, America, for the first time, either because he thought that Amerigo Vespucci had reached the new continent before Columbus or because Amerigo was the first explorer definitely to identify the newly discovered lands as a separate continent, was not named after the European who first reported seeing it. Although this new map of the world prepared by Waldseemuller was called as CartaMarina, it was not more useful for navigation than other maps of this period that were made the Portolano principle of design.
In order to overcome the shortcomings of the earlier maps and to construct more useful maps for the navigators and explorers Peter Apian produced in 1530 a heart shaped map. On this map also the distance and directions were distorted. This problem was finally overcome by Gerardus Mercator who designed the Mercator Projection, The improved form of Mercator Projection which was designed in 1569 became a perfect solution of the problems of navigators and enabled them to reach at the desired destination by sailing the great circle (shortest) route.
Moreover, Mercator did not explain the method used in making this projection. It was in 1599 when Edward Wright produced the trigonometric tables that made it possible for other people to reproduce Mercator's Projection. In the later parts of the 16th century Amsterdam became a major center of the publication of atlases And wall maps, both of which became very popular, especially in the 17th century. Later on the principle of atlases and wall maps at different scales became quite popular in France and England. The great age of discovery thus brought many changes in the world outline and removed many erroneous concepts about the shape and size of the earth, about the dimensions of the continents and countries and thus the subject of geography started growing on the scientific lines. Consequently, many new theories about the origin of the earth and continents and the man-nature relationship, were advocated.
Locals hypothesize that the legacy of Italian blood and culture in Cologne, colonized by the Romans more than 1500 years ago, makes the people more jovial and lighthearted. Cologne is the largest city on the Rhine.
Kolsch is not only the dialect spoken here but, also the name of their own top-fermented beer. There are more than 4,000 pubs, restaurant's and brewery taverns in Cologne.
Unlike many of the world's large cities, Cologne, with a population of over a million, gets better every day, there are more things to do and see, more new and innovative buildings... more
Travel is an opportunity to learn, whether geography, languages, history or other subjects.
Cologne is situated on the beautiful Rhine River.