How Maps Reflect ChangeSOL WG.1d

Why do maps change over time?

A. Our knowledge of the world has increased.

B. Place names change over time.

C. Boundaries change.

D. People have different names for places.

A. The ownership of some areas are disputed by different countries.

Knowledge

We have better maps today because our knowledge of the world has increased due to:

B. Exploration of the worldC. Technology such as satellitesD. GIS mapping software for computers

Place Names

Over time the names of places change. Some examples are:

B. Formosa - Taiwan - Republic of ChinaC. Palestine - Israel - West Bank and Gaza

Strip

Boundaries

The boundaries of countries change for many reasons such as:

B. DecolonizationC. WarsD. Countries break into smaller countries

because people want self ruleE. 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.

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.

Self Rule

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

United Nations

In 1948, the United Nations created the country of Israel as a homeland for Jewish people who had been persecuted in WWII. The Muslim countries around Israel attacked the new country but lost three wars in 1948, 1967, and 1973.

Perspective of Place Names

A. Arabian Gulf or Persian Gulf?B. Sea of Japan or East Sea?C. Middle East or Southwest Asia?

Disputed Areas

The following areas are disputed so the boundaries have changed several times:

B. KoreaC. Western SaharaD. Former YugoslaviaE. Kashmir