Kaartenen

Kaartenen is a term used in fictional and speculative contexts to denote a tradition of cartographic artifacts and related practices. It is not a widely attested historical term, but appears in worldbuilding, fantasy, and role-playing settings to describe map-centered cultural artifacts.

Etymology and usage: The word draws on the Dutch word kaart meaning map, with a fictional plural suffix -enen found in various worldbuilding texts. In these contexts, kaartenen typically refer to a class of objects, traditions, or systems rather than a single real-world practice.

Form and contents: Kaartenen objects are described as map-like records formed as parchment scrolls, wooden tablets, or ceramic plaques. They commonly feature coastlines, routes, waypoints, symbols, and marginal notes, sometimes layered with symbolic imagery or stylized illustrations that encode geographic or mythic information.

Functions and applications: They serve navigational planning, ritual symbolism, genealogical memory, or educational purposes. In narratives, kaartenen may guide explorers, anchor ceremonial activities, or function as mnemonic devices for teaching geography and lore.

Cultural context and fictional history: In many stories, kaartenen originate among seafaring guilds or coastal communities, with transmission through apprenticeships and scholarly libraries. Variants may emphasize celestial navigation, terrestrial routes, or allegorical landscapes, reflecting the cultural priorities of the fictional world.

See also: cartography, maps in fiction, worldbuilding, ethnographic fictions.

Note: kaartenen as described here is a fictional construct used in speculative contexts. There is no established historical term by this name in real-world cartography. If you seek real-world terms, consult sources on historical mapmaking and cartography.