Early cartographers relied on astronomical observations

Position 1: This transformation in accuracy effectively elevated cartography from an artistic pursuit to a rigorous scientific discipline.

Position 2: These methods, while innovative for their time, introduced significant distortions in the representation of landmasses and distances.

Position 3: Consequently, maps produced during this period became reliable enough to guide naval exploration and territorial administration.

Position 4: Early cartographers relied on astronomical observations and traveller accounts to construct maps of the known world.

Position 5: The development of triangulation techniques in the sixteenth century allowed surveyors to measure large areas with far greater precision.