The first known map was created by the ancient Greek philosopher and geographer Anaximander in the 6th century BCE. Anaximander's map represented the entire inhabited world as it was known to the Greeks at the time, depicting the Aegean Sea at the center surrounded by three continents separated by seas and rivers. His work laid the foundation for later cartographers and geographers, marking a significant early step in the history of map-making.
Earlier than Anaximander, very ancient maps existed, such as those preserved on Babylonian clay tablets dating back to about 2300 BCE, but these were more localized and less comprehensive world maps.
In summary, Anaximander is credited with the creation of the first world map representing the known world conceptually, while even earlier clay maps from Babylon are the oldest surviving maps in general.
