Arty and Educational Globes

Author:
QuiltFinger
Updated date:
Dec 28, 2015

Globes: Hold the Whole World In Your Hand

Terrestrial globes are designed to be a to-scale representation of the world presenting without the geographic distortion of two-dimensional maps.

According to Webster's English Dictionary, the word globe comes from the Latin root word globus, which means round like a ball of yarn.

However, the idea of the is much, much older. Read on to learn about the whole story.

The History of the Terrestrial Globe

Read About the Erdapfel at Welt.de

In order to create a round globe, we first had to believe that the world was indeed round.

The Greek were one of the first civilizations to use spherical depictions of the world although many cultures believed the earth was flat for centuries after the Greek's discovery.

Pythagoras and Aristotle were among the first to popularize the image of the world as a spherical globe nearly 3,000 to 6,000 years before Christ.

One of the first globes that we know of through formal documentation was built by a Greek-speaking philosopher in Anatolia or modern-day Turkey.

The oldest existing terrestrial globe was created in Nuremberg, Germany by Martin Behaim in the 1400s. This early depiction known as the "Erdapfel" literally the potato or earth apple does not yet depict the Americans, which was waiting discovery. This historic globe is on display at the German National Museum in Nuremberg.

Today, globes are still one of the most practical way to accurate display the earth's geography. Most educational globes depict the earth at 1/40 millionth of its actual size.

Funny Globe Facts

The world's largest globe known as the Unisphere is located in a world's fair park constructed in Flushing Queens. This massive structure measures 120 feet in diameter.

In France this noted 18th century globe-maker and cartographer Robert de Vaugondy decorated a pair of 18-inch globes that included handcrafted wood based covered in gold.

Map making and globe making have been inextricably linked. In fact, most publishers specialized in both maps and the most luxurious and expensive globe. The Christian Science Plaza in Boston, which is maintained by the Christian Science Monitor, is home to the Mary Baker Eddy library and museum and the exquisite Mapparium, a stained glass globe built in 1935. Unlike other globes, this unique feature is designed to be viewed from the inside.

Reproductions of famous globes like the Erdapfel are still available and many of them are quite old and desirable in their own right.

Knowledge, Power and Globes

Globe production took off toward the end of the middle ages and Spanish and Portuguese explorers discovered new parts of the world's geography. Before WWII, many globes were handcrafted by artisan craftspeople.

Because globes were costly and difficult to produce nobility and kings were among the few who could afford these esteem possessions. Back in the day, owning a global meant access to knowledge, power and an understanding known terrain.

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Globes were considered important status symbols for centuries. Although modern globes are mas produced, they are no less popular today. Globes are a must-have accessory for any student and household.

Traditional Student Globes

Boston's Stained Glass Globe - The Mapparium

Learning With School Globes

Globes are a great way to encourage learning and inspire children to learn more about geography, world cultures and different countries.

One of my favorite globe games is to simply spin the globe, close your eye and point your finger until the globe stops. Traditionally, children will say, "Round and round it goes. Where it stops nobody knows."

To turn a game into a learning opportunity, you and a child and take turns point to places and then challenge the other person to name the capital or an important city in that country. You can also inspire your children to learn more about the place they landed on by searching online or in an encyclopedia, or even cooking a local specialty.

Discover More About Globes Online

The Globe Game
Test your geography knowledge with this virtual globe game.
3-D Globe
Day and Night Representation of the Globe.
Download Google Earth
Interactive Satellite Images of the World.
Marble
Download this interactive globe and world atlas.
Printable Globel Model
Download and printer this paper globe model from Canon Japan.
Printable Earth Globe
Print, cut and assemble this soccer ball-paper globe from NASDA.
Print and Assemble Pyramidal Globe
Print and assemble this simple pyramid-shape globe.
Printable Globe With Complex Geometric Form
Print and assembly this multi-sided globe. Choose from several color and style options.
10-sided Dodecahedron Globe
Combine geometry and geography with this printable dodecahedron paper globe.
Paper Mache Globe
Make a paper mache globe for your next science project.
Globe Maker Archives | omniterrum
Making globes is an art form, and a difficult one as you might imagine. Learn about the famous craftsmen who built the most desirable and valuable antique globes.