An introduction to… the World Map: Unravelling the Whitewashed Tapestry of Global Perception

Alright buckle up, globe-trotters, we’re diving into the twisted tale of how the world map got whitewashed. You know that trusty map hanging in your classroom or the one you’ve got pinned to your wall, making you dream about far-off lands? Yeah, that one. Spoiler alert: it’s been lying to you, and not just about X marking the spot. 

The Mercator Mess:

Let’s kick things off with Gerardus Mercator, the 16th-century cartographer who whipped up the Mercator projection—a map that might make Greenland look like it’s the size of Africa. If you were to peel the Earth like an orange and flatten it onto a map, distortions are bound to happen. But Mercator’s map? It went a bit overboard… it played fast and loose with the sizes of countries, and the ‘big guys’ came out looking even bigger.

Colonial Hangover:

Now, let’s talk colonialism. Surprise, surprise—those European powers of yesteryear didn’t just want to conquer lands; they wanted to flex their cartographic muscles too. Mercator’s map was like the GPS of the colonial era, and you can bet it served their imperialist agendas. Bigger territories meant bigger egos, and who cares if it made Africa look like a mere backdrop?

In the theatre of cartography, the world map unfolds like a stage where power, conquest, and influence take centre stage. This is why, amidst the vastness of continents and oceans, the United Kingdom consistently finds itself cast in the lead role, right in the centre of the map. The grand narrative of the ‘empire’, where Britannia once ruled the waves and shaped the course of history - and the mercator map. The British Empire’s geopolitical and economic influence spread across the globe as it expanded its territories and established colonies on every continent. Its symbolically centralised location became literal through (often British) cartographers of the time’s tendency to amplify this glocal supremacy, and is still perpetuated today. Aside from power and creating marginalised communities through terror, some would argue that the UK being at the heart of the map had practical purposes for navigation and trade routes as London had emerged as a pivotal hub for global commerce. 

However, as the empire dissolved*, the colonial legacy continued to shape global geography perceptions.

*partially, let’s be honest

The North-South Divide:

The Mercator madness doesn’t stop there. Take a look at how it messes with your sense of direction. Ever wondered why Greenland appears to be as colossal as Africa? Blame the North-South stretch. The further you move from the Equator, the more distorted the map becomes. It’s like the North Pole and the South Pole are playing tug of war, and continents are getting stretched in the process.

Africa, The Underdog:

Africa, the giant continent that it is, takes the brunt of this cartographic fiasco, as a continent that straddles the equator. But, it’s not just about size; it’s about power play. By downplaying Africa’s true magnitude, the map perpetuates stereotypes, undermining the significance of the continent. In reality, Africa is the second-largest landmass in the world (after Asia), covering a whopping 20% of the Earth’s land area, and 6% of its total surface area. Africa as a continent is actually large enough to fit the U.S, China, India, Japan, Mexico, plus a few European countries inside it combined, with a land area of 30.37 million sq km. If you’ve ever perused Skyscanner with perplexity at the prices to fly within Africa like I have, this discovery might have you seeing this a little clearer. 

Decolonising the Map:

The good news? There’s a movement to decolonise the map, and it’s gaining traction. The Gall-Peters projection is here to shake things up, showing countries in their true proportions. It’s like swapping your blurry glasses for a pair that actually lets you see. Let’s be real; it’s about time.

The Bottom Line:

The world map we’ve grown up with isn’t just a handy tool for geography quizzes. It’s a narrative crafted by history, power dynamics, and some old fashioned colonialism legacy. So, next time you’re daydreaming about jetting off to some far-flung destination, maybe take a second look at that map on your wall. It might just be time to trade in Mercator’s wild ride for a more honest representation of our diverse and accurately-sized world.