MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work

358
The original orientation of the map has the south at the top, north at the bottom, east to the
right and west to the left. You will note that the Arabian Peninsula is at the centre of the map,
probably because of the holy city of Mecca (spiritual centre of the world for the author; Christian
maps would present Jerusalem at the centre). It is only rather recently that it has become
common to represent the world with north at the top. Not only was it common to put the
south on top, but also for a long time the east (or orient, for “orientation”) was placed at the
top. Seen from far away there is no reason why the earth should be represented with north on
top and south below (you can show this with a picture of the earth taken from space).
Maps are never a fully realistic picture of the world. Even modern maps, such as those created
by aerial photographs and satellite images, portray only certain portions of the light spectrum,
as filtered through the atmosphere and detection instruments.
In these ways, all maps are estimations, generalizations, and interpretations of true geographic
conditions. Any map is the product of human endeavor, and as such may be subject to unwitting
errors, misrepresentation, bias, or outright fraud.
James S. Aber
Handouts
Idrisi map of the world
MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work