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

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

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

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

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

6. 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”

7. Colonial Empires 1763

8. Colonial Empires 1815

9. Colonial Possessions 1914

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

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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 1948: UN Partition Plan Jewish State (Israel) Arab State (Palestine)
International Zone
(Jerusalem)

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

16. 20th Century History of Israel / Palestine

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

19. Muslims in the U.S.

20. Judaism in the U.S.