2026-09-06 01:11 UTC
@cosmos4u@scicomm.xyz
Because it's about *relative* size. Europe and North America have always been shown as being so much larger than they actually are in relation to the equatorial continents; kids everywhere learn that from the get-go. Such an impression makes a difference to the way one sees the reat of the world, both for those in the equatorial countries and the ones suffering an exaggerated image of their countries.
It matters.
Replies (1)
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@cosmos4u@scicomm.xyz 2026-09-06 01:26
@PeterLG@theblower.au "kids everywhere" - like when and where are they actually exposed to maps with oversized North Americas and Europes relative to Africa? The AU and UN resolutions claim that this happens all the time but I can't even remember when I last saw a Mercator / not-about-equal-area map in an educational, let alone political context. And National Geographic began using mostly 'correct' maps in 1988: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_projection - didn't they at least use to be THE source of geographical information for Americans for decades?