I mean this mainly in reference to maps. Is there some reason that North is always up? As seen from space, there is no relative "up." Maps are nothing more than an earthly view from space. Are they not?

So did someone just decide that North would be up and everyone else fell in line? It seems obvious that cartographers would need some way to keep consistency, but why point North upward?

I was pondering initially that it could have to do with European superiority over map construction, being that European cartographers would very likely draw Europe above Africa. Everywhere else would be placed accordingly. This theory was shot down when I realized that it's unlikely that other nations didn't make maps at the same time as, if not earlier than, Europe. Of course, the same hypothesis could be applied to most other nations. It seems right because richer nations tend to be toward the top of the map, but then most nations are toward the top of the map, so I guess it could be more attributed to that.

Note that I would really like serious answers. The only reason I didn't post it in EoEO is because I didn't quite think it EoEO-worthy. I understand that I'm absolutely asking for it in Gen Chat though.

Also, I'm not debating that North should in fact be pointed in any other direction, but asking why it remains at the top. If you'd like to argue that point though, I won't stop you.

Anyway, answer plz.
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