Maps with the feel of the European Middle Ages by Tobias Robbins

 

I originally made this rough draft of a map just to help me visualize all the places in my book just for my personal story aid. These pictures are of the upgraded version of that original map. Because so much of my story involves the power of place on individuals and entire cultures, I wanted a way to see it. The places we’re born into have a lot of power over us. Whether we want to admit it or not. I’m not going to get into a nature versus nurture argument, but it feels safe to assume that our surroundings have an impact on our decisions. On the micro level, it helps us build an identity.  And on the macro level, I point to Jared Diamond's book Guns, Germs, and Steel, which reinforces the importance of natural resources for different civilizations. My story is told from dozens of different characters’ points of view and each of them are from different areas. I wanted to really make sure that I had an accurate continuity in how I described my setting. My map helps me do that. My only regret is that I wish I would’ve gotten a professional to help me illustrate the drawings on the map, I did them myself and they look a bit immature but it’s fine. I wanted it to feel like an old, illustrated map from the European Middle Ages so in a way the map’s simplicity fits that tone. Just like in our world today, locations have unique advantages and disadvantages. Some could be extremely technologically advanced, while others are still in the Stone Age.