All maps need a top and a bottom. Although it's theoretically possible to have a map where words are written in multiple directions maps that tried this fell out of favour very quickly because they were horrible to use.
Luckily almost all maps today orientate the world the exact same way with north at the top.
Examples include OS Maps, Google Maps, and this map of all the motorways in Rutland.
North is up is such an ingrained idea that not even J.R.R Tolkien, creator of Hobbits and Balrogs could imagine an alternative orientation for Middle Earth.
So how did it end up being North and has it always been this way? We're about to tell you and no.
It turns out the majority of ancient cultures had a 90 degree different view of the world from the one we have today.
On their maps, the direction most often facing top was East. The reason for this is down to our hot friend, the sun.
The sun rose in the east and because people liked the sun and were happy when it appeared, east became the most important direction. Oh there it is, that's a relief.
Incidentally orientated means east at the top, hence Orient. Most European maps had east at the top until well into the 15th century.
South was second most important because of all the sunshine; then west where the sun set; With north actually considered the least significant direction because it was the darkest and generally associated with evil.
