THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX - THE ARNO PETERS MAP PROJECTION AND AFRICA

Sandor FoldiInterdisciplinary Doctoral School

University of PécsJune 14, 2012

Table of contents

The Mercator projection Size does matter „the Greenland problem”

The Peters projection Controversies

”Mapping” Africa The projection’s relevance to Africa and the

global South Other map projections

The Mercator projection

The Mercator projection The most commonly used projection Gerardus Mercator – 1569 Originally for maritime navigation

Dilemma: shape or size? ”Conformal” – shapes as they appear on

the globe Examples for area exaggeration

”The Greenland problem”

”The Greenland problem”

The Peters projection

The Peters projection Arno Peters in 1973 It has:

Fidelity of position and area Fidelity of axis Different indicators with different colors Neutrality

What about the size? – the ”hanging sheet” effect Helps to improve creative thinking and problem

solving Size and importance – social equality

Controversies Mercator projection

Based on the worldview of the sixteenth century Alleged eurocentrism Colonial attitude Favors the countries of the global North

Peters projection In the focus of cartographic and geographic debates

since its inception (Robinson, Snyder, Vajukovic, Maling, Kaiser)

Anti-rectangular resolution form US cartographers Cartographically inappropriate

”Mapping” Africa Pre-colonial cartography

Ptolemaic conceptions Gastaldi 1564, Ortelius 1570, Speed 1627 …

The ”Age of Reason” De L’Isle 1700, D’Anville 1727

Terra incognita Methodological continuity Direct colonial authority

Instrumental observations - scientific dimension to travellers’ records

Maps for the administrative systems

Poor nations – rich nations

Economic growth

Inflation

Unemployment

Inequality

Population structure: Adults/children ratio

Health: Infant mortality

”Extreme” map projections I.

”Extreme” map projections II.

”Extreme” map projections III.

What do you think…? …which map projection is ”better”?

One that shows true landmass but distorts shape, distance and direction or

Vice versa?

Thank you very much for your attention!