> In contrast, most European mappae mundi from the era placed east at the top, since east was the direction of the biblical Garden of Eden. I am skeptical of t

> In contrast, most European mappae mundi from the era placed east at the top, since east was the direction of the biblical Garden of Eden. I am skeptical of this explanation. A simpler explanation is that most early maps were east-oriented because the sun rises in the east. South (and later, north) oriented maps only become important when ships begin to use magnetic compasses.