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The term '''topography''' originated in ancient [[Greece]] and continued in ancient [[Rome]], as the detailed description of a place. The [[word]] comes from the Greek [[words]] τόπος (topos, place) and γραφία (graphia, writing).  In [[classical]] [[literature]] this refers to [[writing]] about a place or places, what is now largely called 'local [[history]]'. In Britain and in Europe in general, the word topography is still sometimes used in its original sense.

The term '''topography''' originated in ancient [[Greece]] and continued in ancient [[Rome]], as the detailed description of a place. The [[word]] comes from the Greek [[words]] τόπος (topos, place) and γραφία (graphia, writing).  In [[classical]] [[literature]] this refers to [[writing]] about a place or places, what is now largely called 'local [[history]]'. In Britain and in Europe in general, the word topography is still sometimes used in its original sense.

Detailed military surveys in Britain (beginning in the late eighteenth century) were called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_Survey Ordnance Surveys], and this term was used into the 20th century as generic for topographic surveys and maps. The earliest [[scientific]] surveys in France were called the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassini Cassini] maps after the [[family]] who produced them over four [[generations]]. The term "topographic surveys" appears to be [[American]] in [[origin]]. The earliest detailed surveys in the United States were made by the “Topographical Bureau of the Army,” formed during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812 War of 1812]. After the [[work]] of national mapping was assumed by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Geological_Survey U.S. Geological Survey] in 1878, the term topographical remained as a general term for detailed surveys and mapping programs, and has been adopted by most other nations as standard.

Detailed military surveys in Britain (beginning in the late eighteenth century) were called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_Survey Ordnance Surveys], and this term was used into the 20th century as generic for topographic surveys and maps. The earliest [[scientific]] surveys in France were called the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassini Cassini] maps after the [[family]] who produced them over four [[generations]]. The term "topographic surveys" appears to be [[American]] in [[origin]]. The earliest detailed surveys in the United States were made by the “Topographical Bureau of the Army,” formed during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812 War of 1812]. After the [[work]] of national mapping was assumed by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Geological_Survey U.S. Geological Survey] in 1878, the term topographical remained as a general term for detailed surveys and mapping programs, and has been adopted by most other nations as standard.

In the 20th century, the term topography started to be used to describe [[surface]] description in other fields where [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Map mapping] in a broader sense is used, particularly in medical fields such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurology neurology].

In the 20th century, the term topography started to be used to describe [[surface]] description in other fields where [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Map mapping] in a broader sense is used, particularly in medical fields such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurology neurology].

*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_Century 15th century]

*Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_Century 15th century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 a : the [[art]] or [[practice]] of graphic delineation in detail usually on maps or charts of [[natural]] and man-made features of a place or region especially in a way to show their [[relative]] positions and elevations  

*1 a : the [[art]] or [[practice]] of graphic delineation in detail usually on maps or charts of [[natural]] and man-made features of a place or region especially in a way to show their [[relative]] positions and elevations  

In a broader sense, topography is concerned with local detail in general, including not only relief but also [[vegetative]] and [[human]]-made features, and even local [[history]] and [[culture]]. This [[meaning]] is less common in America, where topographic maps with elevation contours have made "topography" synonymous with relief. The older sense of topography as the [[study]] of place still has currency in Europe.

In a broader sense, topography is concerned with local detail in general, including not only relief but also [[vegetative]] and [[human]]-made features, and even local [[history]] and [[culture]]. This [[meaning]] is less common in America, where topographic maps with elevation contours have made "topography" synonymous with relief. The older sense of topography as the [[study]] of place still has currency in Europe.

Topography as it specifically involves the recording of relief or terrain, the [[three]]-[[dimensional]] [[quality]] of the [[surface]], and the identification of specific landforms, is also known as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomorphometry geomorphometry]. In modern usage, this involves generation of elevation data in electronic form. It is often considered to include the graphic [[representation]] of the landform on a map by a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartographic_relief_depiction variety of techniques], including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contour_line contour lines], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypsometric_tints Hypsometric tints], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaded_relief relief shading].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topography]

Topography as it specifically involves the recording of relief or terrain, the [[three]]-[[dimensional]] [[quality]] of the [[surface]], and the identification of specific landforms, is also known as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomorphometry geomorphometry]. In modern usage, this involves generation of elevation data in electronic form. It is often considered to include the graphic [[representation]] of the landform on a map by a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartographic_relief_depiction variety of techniques], including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contour_line contour lines], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypsometric_tints Hypsometric tints], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaded_relief relief shading].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topography]

[[Category: Geography]]

[[Category: Geography]]