The conic projection with the easiest construction method is the simple or equidistant conic, with uniformly spaced parallels. Neither equal-area nor conformal, except along the standard parallels, but an acceptable compromise for most temperate countries, it is the general case of both azimuthal equidistant andequidistant cylindrical projections.
Its origins can be traced back at least to Claudius Ptolemy's first partial world map, which is purely conic only north of the Equator. It has been applied since at least the 17th century to Earth and star maps, occasionally with modifications, some of which are perhaps due to the difficulty of drafting arcs of large diameter, which frequently occur with small cone constants. Usage persists today in local and regional maps.