Why is maps always drawn with North on top?

Question

In the universe there is no top nor bottom, but why did they decide to put North on top when they started to draw maps? It surely must be a stupid question but it's bugging me.

Answer 1

It's just a convention. Like driving on the right side of the road in countries where that's a convention.

At night, in the northern hemisphere, the one star that doesn't go around as the earth rotates, but just stays in one place hour after hour, is Polaris, the north star. So it might have made sense in ancient times for people to stand facing north when thinking about directions. That might be where that convention came from.

Answer 2

I think it's just become a universal standard. But they do have maps that don't have the conventional "ups" and "downs." I think we say the North is up from conditioning, just as western maps tend to centralize North America. Maps in Asia for instance could have North America over on the right side. So on a map bought in Japan for instance, the "far east" could mean North America. That could get confusing so perhaps there was a standard established .. perhaps because the more "powerful/influential" countries are located on the Northern hemisphere, and that's what they wanted? (I wish someone would actually do real research into this lol)

Answer 3

Keep in mind that north is not "always" on the top of the map!

Because they can not show the third dimension on maps, they decided to make it a standard to put North on the top of the map for easier use.

Answer 4

Orientation. They used the north star and drew their maps as if they were looking at it. Besides it is only the top and up if you are hanging it on a wall.

Not every map is drawn oriented north but we are so used to the convention that anything else causes confusions.

Answer 5

It is what is known as an established standard in cartography (map drawing). A good analogy might be why is North 0 degrees on a compass. There has to be an agreed upon point of reference for ease of interpretation and communication.

Answer 6

My educated guess is it is a reference point that everyone is familiar with and perhaps early map makers tended to come from northern hemisphere areas.
I have some maps from "down under' that actually show Australia at the top of the map.
I think it is just how maps were created, historically.

Answer 7

I'M GUESSING!!! because we have always used the north star to guide are self so it makes sense to have the top of the map north...right?

Answer 8

Interestingly, ancient European maps were drawn with east at the top, in reference to the Holy Land being east of Europe. It was placed at the top for importance. Thus, maps were thought to be 'oriented', whereby the lands east of Europe (the orient) were at the top.

Answer 9

Because north IS on top. Where do you think the North Pole is?

Answer 10

because the English and the Spanish drew all the maps and England had to be on top have you ever noticed England is huge on maps it's because they wanted to appear big so no one would try to invade if you saw a real map to proper scale England would only be a pip on the map compared to Africa and Asia