Anderson: Maps, Power, and Nationhood (60 Flashcards)

What region does Anderson use as a case study for his theory of maps?

• Siam, which is modern-day Thailand.

What is the main focus of Anderson’s excerpt?

• How maps transformed the understanding of space and power in 19th-century Asia.

What type of map revolutionized spatial representation in Asia during the 19th century?

• The Mercatorian map.

What does Anderson argue maps are not?

• Neutral tools of geography.

According to Anderson, what are maps instruments of?

• Political power and state authority.

• Political power and state authority.

A standardized, geometric, and coordinate-based view of territory.

How were pre-Mercator Siamese maps different from European ones?

• They were symbolic and relational, not geometric or scaled.

What kind of precision did the Mercatorian map emphasize?

• Borders, coordinates, and proportionate scale.

What did the Mercatorian map allow rulers to imagine for the first time?

• A: The nation as a bounded, administratively manageable entity.

Q: Before the Mercator map, how was political space understood in Siam?

• A: As a network of relationships, not fixed borders.

Q: What were the two main types of Siamese maps before European influence?

• A: Practical/regional maps and cosmological/ritual maps.

Q: What characterized cosmological or ritual maps?

• A: They reflected the king’s divine authority and moral order.

Q: What did cosmological maps represent instead of geography?

• A: Symbolic relationships and hierarchies.

Q: Were traditional Siamese maps strictly scaled?

• A: No, they were flexible and relational.

Q: What did traditional Siamese governance lack that European powers emphasized?

• A: Fixed borders.

Q: Who is Thongchai Winichakul?

• A: A Thai historian who expanded Anderson’s ideas about mapping and nationhood.

Q: What shift occurred in how maps and power related, according to Thongchai?

• A: Maps began shaping power rather than reflecting it.

Q: What did maps start to define in Siam after their introduction?

• A: The state’s sovereignty and self-perception.

Q: After Mercatorian maps, what did maps create?

• A: New forms of political authority and legitimacy.

Q: Why are historical maps politically powerful?

• A: They justify modern national borders as ancient and legitimate.

Q: How do historical maps contribute to nationalism?

• A: They make it seem as if the nation has always existed.

Q: What broader theory does the maps this link to?

• A: Anderson’s concept of nations as “imagined communities.”

Q: What function does the “map-as-logo” serve?

• A: It symbolizes the nation like a brand logo represents a company.

How did Western powers view Siam?

As semi-modern and diplomatically skilled

What did modernization mean for Siam?

Adopting Western-style institutions while preserving culture

What was the link between religion and the monarchy?

The king was seen as a Buddhist moral leader

Why did Siam change its name to Thailand?

To emphasize Thai ethnic identity and nationalism

When was Siam officially renamed Thailand?

In 1939

What does “Thai” mean?

Free or freedom

How did nationalism redefine identity in Thailand?

By promoting unity through ethnicity and language

What tension existed between ethnic groups in Thailand?

Central Thai dominance over minorities

What was one educational reform in late 19th-century Siam?

Establishing government-run secular schools

Why did secular schools replace monastery education?

To modernize learning and standardize curriculum

What subjects were introduced in new Thai schools?

Mathematics

How did the Thai monarchy use propaganda?

Through schools

Why was the monarchy central to Thai identity?

It symbolized continuity and national pride

What was the role of the military in Thai nation-building?

To protect sovereignty and enforce loyalty

How did print media influence Thai nationalism?

Newspapers spread common language and royal imagery

What does “Merit-making” mean in Buddhism?

Performing good deeds to gain spiritual benefit

How was merit-making linked to the king?

The king was seen as the highest source of merit

What was one impact of Western colonial pressure?

Encouraged Siam to modernize rapidly

How did Buddhist ethics influence governance?

They encouraged moral leadership and social harmony

What did the monarchy’s reforms aim to prevent?

Internal weakness that could invite colonization

What is an example of a symbolic national ritual?

Celebrations of the king’s birthday

Why was education tied to citizenship?

Educated citizens were loyal and disciplined subjects

What was one way the monarchy communicated with citizens?

Royal proclamations

What was a major goal of Thai nationalism?

Creating unity across diverse regions and ethnicities

How did the monarchy use symbols?

The royal flag

What does “Buddhist kingship” mean?

A ruler guided by Dharma (moral law)

How did colonial maps influence Thai identity?

They reinforced fixed borders and national territory

What modern institution symbolized unity?

The centralized education system

How did Anderson describe the role of print in nationalism?

It allowed people to imagine belonging to the same community

What historical factor distinguished Siam from its neighbors?

Its success in negotiating independence