Learning to read maps can begin at an early age.  David Stephens and his granddaughter, Kaia, talk about where she lives.

Making Sense of Maps offers a place for students and teachers to begin working with maps as historical evidence. Written by David Stephens, this guide offers an overview of the history of maps and how historians use them, a breakdown of the elements of a map, tips on what questions to ask when analyzing maps, an annotated bibliography, and a guide to finding and using maps online. David Stephens is professor of geography at Youngstown State University. He holds a Ph.D. in geography from the University of Nebraska. His recent research interests have focused on the use of primary documents to understand the processes of early settlement in the northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.

Published online February 2002. Cite as: David Stephens, "Making Sense of Maps," History Matters: The U.S. Survey Course on the Web, http://historymatters.gmu.edu/mse/maps/, February 2002.