What makes North North? o.o

[Mogi]

Yeah, I definitely wasn't posting this thread to sound smart. If you knew me at all, you'd realize that. I was genuinely curious as to why maps were designed that way and, since a lot of my questions like this in the past have been answered without my asking at all, I figured I'd ask all of you here on EoFF. The only reason I hesitated at all and didn't post it hours before was because I knew there would be at least a few people who'd give me replies like that.

Anyway, thanks for those of you who helped. Timekeeper, that was very interesting and helped a lot.

EDIT: Srsly, it's just a smurfing question.

EDITRA: If East was up, this thread would instead question why it was chosen to be up.

So, Timekeeper, East was initially up? That's interesting! A search for Ptolemy didn't quite find what I was looking for. Do you have any idea how I can find other information on the topic?