Maps
Maps are useful artifacts.
In a world where there is never-ending content being generated, it is hard to keep track of the landscape that this content is describing.
What is the landscape that everybody is experiencing?
All these articles and books: what is the landscape they are referring to? Make intelligent decisions to go where?
One of the beautiful properties of maps is that they are suggestive of iteration and refinement.
A map is based on known information. As new information comes to light, the map is refined. As new areas are "discovered" (or, if they have always been there, become "known to you"), you just update your map.
Early Maps
Initial maps are suggestive of your best guess based on what you know.
They are still useful, just generalized.
Map Evolution
The map iterates.
More detail in known areas.
Expanded outlook for unknown or lesser-known regions.
Still not something that anybody would call "accurate".
Modern Maps
The map develops, develops, develops.
At any interval, the map that can be accessed is recognized as, genreally, the current state.
Practical Factors
An emergent property of maps is: once the landscape is recorded, the affect of other elements over the terrain can be plotted and charted.
Different Perspectives
Once a map is recorded or defined, it also gives you a baseline to shift the way you view it.