Analiza dokładności mapy Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego Tomasza Makowskiego z 1613 r., tzw. radziwiłłowskiej na podstawie siatki zniekształceń

Artykuł jest poświęcony analizie dokładności radziwiłłowskiej mapy Litwy z 1613 r. z zastosowaniem jednej z metod graficznych, jaką jest siatka zniekształceń, obrazująca przestrzenne zróżnicowanie poprawności wykonania tej mapy.

The article attempts to analyze accuracy of the map of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania elaborated by Tomasz Makowski (so called "Radziwiłł map", for the first time issued probably in 1613). The map was financed by prince Mikołaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł Sierotka (1549-1616), who was one of the more significant sponsors of culture on the Grand Duchy of Lithuania on the break of the XVIIth century. The map was drawn by Tomasz Makowski, engraver and cartographer, resident at the Radziwiłł court in Nieśwież and it was engraved and printed in Amsterdam. The map covers the area of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in its 1569 borders, but also includes some neighboring areas. The map is rich in geographical and historical data, most significant of which is the hydrographic network and the settlement system with 1020 communities. Borders, especially in disputed areas are also characteristic. The map was drawn in trapeze projection at the scale of approximately 1:1 300 000. There are two groups of methods which can be applied in map research : quantitative and graphic. In this case the graphic method was used. During the analysis of accuracy, average scales for particular areas were established; they turned out to be close to the main scale of 1:1 300 000. Four series of measurements were taken; three of them between communities and the fourth along the meridian. Next, a distortion grid was prepared, basing on a modern map at 1:1 000 000. The analysis of the distortion grid showed, that the map represents 6 differentiated areas, which reflect political boundaries of that time. The highest distortions appear in Moscow lands, the lowest around Vilnius and Kaunas. It was also established, that on Radziwiłł map" Vilnius lies on 42 degree 20' E meridian. Since the longitude of Vilnius is 25 degree 18' E of Greenwich, it can be assumed that meridian 42 degree E on "Radziwiłł map" approximately corresponds to meridian 25 degree E.