Topic 2 The Politics of Representation -- Maps and Map Projections

The Politics of Representation: Maps and Map Projections

Development of Cartographic Knowledge

  • Definition and Nature of Maps: Maps serve as visual representations of the Earth’s surface, representing cultural products shaped by different societies and their worldviews.

  • Philosophical Insight:

    • We perceive the world through our lens; maps reflect this perspective rather than depicting objective reality.

    • Maps are texts to be deconstructed, revealing underlying power relations.

  • Geoff King (1996): Maps help individuals orient themselves spatially in the world.

  • Brian Harley (1983): Maps are discourse tools that convey power and worldviews.

Maps and Social Perception

  • Key Questions:

    • How do maps reflect our worldview?

    • How do maps influence our perceptions of the world?

Historical Development of Cartography

Early Contributors to Cartographic Knowledge

  1. Hecataeus of Miletus (c. 550 BC): authored the "Ges Periodos", an early world survey.

  2. Aristotle (384-322 BC): Established the Earth as spherical; observed processes like volcanism.

  3. Eratosthenes (3rd century BC):

    • Credited with calculating the Earth's circumference with remarkable accuracy (within 0.5%).

    • Divided the Earth into five climatic zones:

      • Hot Zone at the equator.

      • Frigid zones at the poles.

      • Two temperate zones.

Mapping the World According to Eratosthenes

  • Utilized locations like Alexandria and Syene to calculate the Earth's circumference, establishing key principles in mapping.

The World According to Ptolemy

  • Ptolemy (100-170 AD): Compiled descriptive geography of the Roman Empire in "Guide to Geography".

Post-Roman Empire Knowledge Loss

  • Theological Interpretations: After the fall of the Roman Empire, maps were replaced with T and O maps, reinforcing theological interpretations of geography.

Illustrative Cultural Representations

  1. Cruz Commissa: Various forms of crosses reflecting different cultural interpretations.

  2. Religious Art: Artworks like "The Martyrdom of Saint Andrew" depicting historical cartographic influences.

  3. Mappa Mundi: Medieval world maps illustrating both geography and cosmological beliefs.

Influence of Islamic Scholars

  • Muhammed al-Idrisi (AD 1099–1166): Created advanced world maps and documented coastlines and resources.

  • Ibn Battuta (AD 1304-1378): Gathered extensive geographic information.

Modern Cartographic Developments

  1. Map Projection Evolution:

    • 15th–17th century: Geographical expansion during the rise of merchant capitalism and nationalism led to improved cartography.

    • Abraham Ortelius (1570): Published the first modern atlas, marking a significant development in cartography.

  2. Use of Perspective: Introduced by Filippo Brunelleschi; essential for understanding scale and representing landscapes.

Cultural Representations in Mapping

  • Recognized anthropological perspectives, such as Australian Aboriginal representations and their unique mapping practices reflecting cultural ties to the land.

  • Examples of Indigenous Maps:

    • Possum Skin Coats: Serve as navigational aids representing territories.

    • Marshall Islands Stick Charts: Physical representations of oceanic navigation based on geography.

Challenges of Cartographic Representation

  1. Distortion and Perception:

    • Essential to understand the inherent distortions from representing a 3D Earth on a 2D surface.

    • The perception of data is influenced by cultural views and biases in map reading.

  2. Map Projections:

    • Projections dramatically affect how geographic relationships and sizes are perceived.

    • The Mercator projection, well-known for its navigation utility, distorts the sizes of landmasses, particularly near the poles.

Conclusion: Reassessing Projections and Perceptions

  • Recognition of how different projections can lead to a reevaluation of perceived world sizes and politics, illustrating how maps can mislead views and perceptions of geographical and cultural scale.