A globe is a spherical model of Earth, of some other celestial body, or of the

celestial sphere. Globes serve purposes similar to maps, but unlike maps, they do
not distort the surface that they portray except to scale it down. A model globe of
Earth is called a terrestrial globe. A model globe of the celestial sphere is
called a celestial globe.

A globe shows details of its subject. A terrestrial globe shows landmasses and
water bodies. It might show nations and major cities and the network of latitude
and longitude lines. Some have raised relief to show mountains and other large
landforms. A celestial globe shows notable stars, and may also show positions of
other prominent astronomical objects. Typically, it will also divide the celestial
sphere into constellations.

The word globe comes from the Latin word globus, meaning "sphere". Globes have a
long history. The first known mention of a globe is from Strabo, describing the
Globe of Crates from about 150 BC. The oldest surviving terrestrial globe is the
Erdapfel, made by Martin Behaim in 1492. The oldest surviving celestial globe sits
atop the Farnese Atlas, carved in the 2nd century Roman Empire.