Evolution of Maps Why do maps change over

Evolution of Maps Why do maps change over time? ? ?

Increase in Knowledge • Map of Columbus’s time – The world as seen by explorers

• Satellite images – Models of the earth's surface produced from sensors on satellites.

• GIS (Geographic Information Systems) – Computer programs linking features commonly seen on maps (such as roads, town boundaries, water bodies) with related information not usually presented on maps

Change in place names • The name changes due to a change in government, political systems, or leadership. • Examples on next slides

Formosa – Taiwan – Republic of China CHINA Pacific Ocean - Named Formosa – after Portuguese settlers discovered the island - Taiwan traded hands between the Chinese and Japanese - China claims Taiwan as theirs after WWII

Congo – Zaire – Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Established as a Belgian colony Politically unstable country Fell to a powerful leader – Mobutu – Zaire 1997 – Became DRC after the influx of refugees from Rwanda

Changes in Boundaries • Countries lose or gain land due to wars and international negotiations • Examples on next slides

Africa 1990’s - Changes in governments - Changes due to wars

Europe Before WWII – After WWII – Since 1990 • WWII – Split Germany into East & West Germany; Poland changed shape • Since 1990 – Germany united, Czechoslovakia split into Czech Republic and Slovakia; Bosnian war

USSR – Russia and the former Soviet Republics - Caused by the fall of communism in the USSR - Led to many former Russian territories splitting off into their own countries

Middle East - Yemen – used to be North Yemen and South Yemen - Israeli – Palestinian War – areas are still disputed BEFORE 1948 AFTER 1967

Perspectives of Place Names • The viewpoint • Places may be called a different name by different countries • Examples on next slides

Arabian Gulf – Persian Gulf

Sea of Japan – East Sea

Middle East – North Africa & Southwest Asia – the Arab World

Disputed Areas • Areas may be called different names because they are claimed by more than one country • Examples on next slides

KOREA - Since 1953, Korea has been divided in 2 along the 38 th parallel - Communism (NORTH) vs. Democratic (SOUTH)

Western Sahara • Spanish colony • Spain left Morocco and Mauritania to battle over the land • Mauritania gave up, Morocco still battles – Western Sahara declares independency

Tibet • Claimed by China and Nepal • Declares to be independent • Not recognized as an independent country

Kashmir • Claimed by India and Pakistan • Declares to be independent