The Importance Of Maps In Our Society

September 24, 2012 in Daily Bulletin

Apple’s bungled attempt at mapping (something that should particularly concern its executives) has put maps in the spotlight. Vanessa Thorpe looked at the role that maps play in our society:

  • Throughout history the center of the map was a known cultural landmark such as London or Jerusalem.
  • Now however with digital maps the individual is at the center of the map, explaining why they have become so popular in recent times.
  • Maps also play an important role in children’s literature. The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Treasure Island all prominently featured maps. The Marauder’s Map in Harry Potter also played a pivotal role.
  • Map makers have yielded a lot of influence in history and continue to do so in the present. Google mistakenly assigned some territory in Costa Rica to Nicaragua. Nicaraguans then used that mistake as a justification to invade the territory.

Read more about the mountain range that never was, and the future of maps over here.

Source: The Guardian