How Maps Reflect Change SOL WG.1e

What changes over time? A. Knowledge B. Place names C. Boundaries Perspectives of Place Names Disputed Areas

Knowledge We have better maps today because our knowledge of the world has increased due to: Exploration of the world Technology such as satellites GIS mapping software for computers

Place Names Over time the names of places change. Some examples are: Formosa - Taiwan - Republic of China Palestine - Israel - West Bank and Gaza Strip

Columbus Map

World Map Today

Boundaries The boundaries of countries change for many reasons such as: Decolonization Wars Countries break into smaller countries because people want self rule Intervention of the United Nations

Decolonization Colonization is when a country takes over other countries or parts of the world. In the late 1800s European countries colonized much of Africa. Most countries in Africa became independent in the 1950s and 1960s and the map of Africa had to be redrawn.

Africa circa 1914

Africa today

Wars The boundaries of countries are often redrawn at the end of wars. At the end of World War I and World War II the boundaries of many countries in Europe changed.

Europe before WWII

Europe after WWII

Europe after 1990

Self Rule In the early 1990s the Soviet Union broke apart peacefully and many countries regained independence.

Former Soviet Union

Russia today

Perspective of Place Names Arabian Gulf or Persian Gulf? Sea of Japan or East Sea? Middle East or North Africa and Southwest Asia?

Disputed Areas The following areas are disputed so the boundaries have changed several times: Korea Western Sahara Former Yugoslavia Kashmir