Zemkoule

Zeměkoule is the Czech term for a globe depicting the Earth. The word combines země (earth) with koule (sphere) and is used for both terrestrial globes and, in some contexts, figurative references to the planet as a whole. A terrestrial globe is a three-dimensional, spherical model showing continents, oceans, and political boundaries, often with graticule lines, labels, and sometimes relief or time zones. A celestial globe, by contrast, shows stars and constellations.

History: The idea of a spherical Earth and its representation goes back to antiquity. The first known terrestrial globes appeared in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, reflecting expanding geographic knowledge. The Erdapfel, created around 1492 by Martin Behaim, is the oldest surviving terrestrial globe. Globes were later refined with improved cartography, projection choices, and printing techniques. In the modern era they were produced in wood, metal, and papier-mâché, and later in plastic.

Construction and use: Traditional zeměkoule are mounted on a stand allowing rotation and tilt. They are used for teaching geography, navigation concepts, and Earth’s geometry. Many include political boundaries, major cities, oceans, latitude and longitude lines, and climate zones. In museums and classrooms they illustrate spatial relationships at various scales.

Modern context: Physical globes continue to be educational tools, though digital and interactive globes—on the web or in GIS platforms—offer dynamic zoom, layers, and real-time data. Zeměkoule remains a foundational term in Czech geography and cartography.

See also: globe; cartography; Erdapfel; Behaim.