KingHeroical t1_jefhr2b wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:05 PM

Reply to comment by GuinnessTheBestBoi in There really isn't any reason why north is always upward and south is always downward on maps. by GuinnessTheBestBoi

If you were holding a map, and trying to figure out which way to orient it so that it matched your surroundings, you'd want to have some sort of reference 'arrow' to line up with something. Historically, the most common physical reference point used in navigation was the north star.

So, face the north star while holding the map oriented correctly and north will be on the top of the map.

amandack t1_jefmemp wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:36 PM

The north star is only applicable in the northern hemisphere. The Southern cross is what is used in the southern hemisphere, and your argument would work with that. Orient your map to the southern cross, and south will be on the top of the map.

KingHeroical t1_jefohjt wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:49 PM

We're speaking practically rather than technically here:

Nearly 90% of humans live in the northern hemisphere. People who were developing mapping and navigation techniques did so primarily in the northern hemisphere. So for them, 'north on top' was not arbitrary at all but rather very practical.