Final answer:
A cylindrical projection refers to how a map would look if projected onto a cylinder, as with the Mercator projection, which is known for both its utility in navigation and its distortions of sizes and distances at higher latitudes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A cylindrical projection is based on how a map would look if the globe was projected onto a cylinder. This type of projection, known as the Mercator projection, aligns all the latitude lines to have the same length as the equator. Developed by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, it provides a grid overlay of horizontal and vertical lines representing longitudes and latitudes, respectively. While Mercator projections are useful for navigation due to their representation of angles and directions, they are notorious for distorting sizes and distances the farther away from the equator the map depicts.
An example of this projection is Colton's Map of the World on Mercator's Projection from 1855. Although map projections like the Mercator are valuable for navigation and contextual understanding, they also reveal how perceptions of geographical realities can vary based on the mapmaker's technique and intentions.