ALL Maps Distort… Distance, or Direction, or Shape, or A combination of the above.

Map Projections of a Human Head But who decides which projection to use?

Mercator Projection One of the first projections Parallel lines (better for navigation) Distortion toward poles (Greenland), therefore Northern hemisphere appears “larger” Eurocentric? Mercator Projection

Equal area: Accurate relative sizes of every land mass 1974 (new) Political Controversy Focuses on “Global South” Peters Projection

Robinson Projection “Neutral?” Good “visual” (not navigational) representation Not proportional

Maps and Power. Therefore, all maps are representations of power: The power of the mapmaker The power of the country / authority behind the mapmaker The power of one culture representing another culture and its cultural space The power to choose what is and is NOT represented on the map and in what form No map is inherently “correct,” “true,” “neutral,” “value-free,” or “scientifically impartial”

Colonial Empires 1763

Colonial Empires 1815

Colonial Possessions 1914

What about the U.S? Did we engage in colonial practices to better our way of life?

But is that it? Slavery? (Cheap Labor) Indigenous people? (Natural resources)

Northern Ireland Same race, language Different religion? Ethnicity? (Catholics vs. Protestants) Same race, language Different religion? Ethnicity? Protestant majority for staying in U.K.; Catholic minority for joining Ireland.

Colonialism in the Middle East 1948: Israel (re)created by U.N.* In a mostly Arabic region, most reject / resent the decision by Western countries to assist in the creation of Israel in what they consider their homeland (culturally, historically, religiously) for ~3,000 years Palestinian Newspaper

1948: UN Partition Plan Jewish State (Israel) Arab State (Palestine) International Zone (Jerusalem)

Holy City to Jews, Muslims, and Christians Jerusalem: Holy City to Jews, Muslims, and Christians

20th Century History of Israel / Palestine

Question: Is this a religious / cultural issue? Or is it a political issue?

Muslims in the U.S.

Judaism in the U.S.