Five centuries ago, the first Bible to include a map was published in Zürich, marking a turning point in both religious publishing and cartography. The map, created by Renaissance artist Lukas Cranach the Elder, depicted Israel and its holy sites, but was geographically inaccurate and reflected European ignorance of the Middle East. Despite its flaws, the map blended modern mapping techniques with medieval symbolism, offering readers a visual journey through biblical history.

This innovation coincided with a broader shift in European mapmaking, as accurate representations of countries and borders began to replace symbolic medieval maps. The division of Israel into tribal territories on the Bible map influenced the way cartographers began to depict the world, legitimizing the concept of nations with defined borders. Over time, maps became a permanent feature in Bibles, reinforcing religious narratives and shaping perceptions of geography and sovereignty.

The inclusion of maps in Bibles helped foster the idea of a world divided into distinct countries, a legacy that continues to shape global politics and religious thought today. While the first Bible map was a product of its era's limitations and biases, its impact on how people understood both sacred and secular spaces has endured.