Newly crafted maps will only display very minute areas around you. In picture #1 below, you can see a regular map that shows vast areas of the world. In picture #2, you can see the very minuscule area that is displayed vs. picture #1. (By the way, that is in the same world in the same location. In #1, I am simply in my basement displayed as the upper left map-marker in map #1)
Check wiki for correct functionality before assuming incorrect functionality.
Map starts off as small area, you need to craft it with more paper to increase the area it shows.