Earliest maps

It is impossible to isolate the time when maps, in whatever shape or form, were first used. 

As communication methods evolved, writing and forms of hieroglyphics also developed. This lead to a need to illustrate local habitats or routes showing river crossings, mountainous terrains and the like.

An ancient Babylonian tablet (circa 600BC) showing a representative map of Babylon, the Euphrates River and a surrounding ocean ^{http://pw1.netcom.com/~aldawood/tablets.htm} 

The oldest surviving maps are Assyrian and Babylonian clay tablets, as well as sketched plans on papyrus designed by the Egyptians about 2400 BC. 

The Grecians constructed maps of very high quality and contributed a great deal to the future of mapping. 

Around the time of 600 BC, there were some people that believed in the Homeric theory of a disc-shaped or plane earth as shown on a map by Recataeus. Others preferred the Pythagorean theory of a spherical earth.

Interpretation of Homer's view of the world ^{http://www.henry-davis.com/MAPS/Ancient%20Web%20Pages/105.html}

Earliest atlas

The first atlas, titled Geographia, was produced by the Grecian mathematician, geographer and astronomer, Ptolemy more than 2000 years ago. 

After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD, there was a subsequent loss of knowledge from Roman and other civilisations. As a result civilisations returned to the belief of a flat world. 

There is little evidence of cartographic development in Europe between 600 AD and 1300 AD.

Scientific and exploration developments

Early scientific developments that had an impact on map production in the 15th century included the beginning of paper production, engraving of copper and Gutenberg's invention of the letter-press process. It was these developments that enabled the production of multiple copies from the original document.

The following century saw much in the way of exploration and discoveries of new worlds.

Along with inventions of more precise survey instruments and Gerard Mercator's revolutionary new projection, advances were made in map development, especially by the Dutch.