1. Maps have evolved over thousands of years, with the earliest maps dating back to the Neolithic age between 6,000-10,000 years ago. People who create maps are called cartographers. A map simplifies an area by showing spatial relationships between objects and places. 2. Key elements of maps include the compass rose, which indicates directions, cardinal directions of north, south, east, and west, and intermediate directions like northeast and southwest. Maps also use scales to show ratios of distance on the map to real-world distances, and legends or keys to explain symbols. 3. Additional common map elements are titles to indicate the topic, and grids of parallels and meridians which are