Step 1:

Present the following two maps of Jerusalem to your class. Discuss the similarities and differences of each map as well as its objective.

Christian Van Adrichem drew a map of Jerusalem in 1584 without ever visiting the city. The map is structured like a European town and features events and people in Jerusalem from the Old and the New Testament.

Modern Map of the Old City of Jerusalem from the Old City’s tourist website lists the names of the seven gates, the main streets, and some of the tourist sites available in all four quarters of the Old City.

Step 2:

In groups, analyze old maps of Jerusalem and use the worksheet to learn about the cartographers’ objectives, perspectives, and biases, and what the map tells us about Jerusalem. Each group is assigned one map, and the groups share what they learned with the class and compare the maps.

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• Is the map drawn to scale?
• Can you identify two or three locations on the map?
• Is the map oriented to the north, south, east, or west?
• What does this map teach you about Jerusalem?
• What was the cartographer’s objective, and what might their bias be?

Using this template, learners create a map of three to five of their most-visited or favorite places. The completed maps are redistributed around the class, enabling them to learn more about their classmates from their maps.