Introduction
In 1974, German historian Arno Peters introduced a new world map projection that aimed to correct the distortions of the traditional Mercator projection. The Gall Peters world map, also known as the Peters projection, gained much attention and criticism for its unique representation of the world. In this article, we will delve deeper into the controversy surrounding the Gall Peters world map and examine its impact on the world.
What is the Gall Peters World Map?
The Gall Peters world map is a cylindrical equal-area projection that tries to accurately represent the relative sizes of landmasses. Unlike the Mercator projection, which distorts the sizes of landmasses as they get farther from the equator, the Gall Peters projection sizes them according to their true size. This means that countries near the equator, such as Brazil and Congo, appear smaller, while countries near the poles, such as Russia and Canada, appear larger.
Why was the Gall Peters Map Created?
Arno Peters created the Gall Peters world map to address the Eurocentric bias of the traditional Mercator projection. The Mercator projection was created in the 16th century to aid European sailors in navigation, but it became the standard world map projection used in schools and textbooks. The Mercator projection exaggerates the size of Europe and North America, making them appear larger than they actually are, while shrinking Africa and South America.
Controversy Surrounding the Gall Peters World Map
The introduction of the Gall Peters world map caused a heated debate among cartographers and geographers. Many critics argued that the Gall Peters projection was not aesthetically pleasing and that it distorted the shape of countries. They also claimed that the Mercator projection had been used for centuries and was widely accepted, and that there was no need to change it.
Advocates of the Gall Peters World Map
Supporters of the Gall Peters world map praised it for accurately representing the true sizes of landmasses and for reducing the Eurocentric bias of the Mercator projection. They argued that the Mercator projection had contributed to a distorted view of the world, perpetuating racism and imperialism. The Gall Peters projection, they claimed, was a more accurate and fair representation of the world.
The Impact of the Gall Peters World Map
Despite the controversy surrounding it, the Gall Peters world map had a significant impact on the world. It sparked a debate about the Eurocentric bias of the traditional Mercator projection and raised awareness about the importance of accurate cartography. The Gall Peters projection also influenced the creation of other map projections that tried to address the distortions of the Mercator projection.
Question & Answer
Q: What is the Gall Peters world map?
A: The Gall Peters world map is a cylindrical equal-area projection that tries to accurately represent the relative sizes of landmasses.
Q: Why was the Gall Peters map created?
A: Arno Peters created the Gall Peters world map to address the Eurocentric bias of the traditional Mercator projection.
Q: What was the controversy surrounding the Gall Peters world map?
A: The introduction of the Gall Peters world map caused a heated debate among cartographers and geographers. Many critics argued that the Gall Peters projection was not aesthetically pleasing and that it distorted the shape of countries.
Conclusion
The Gall Peters world map continues to be a controversial topic among cartographers and geographers. While some criticize it for its distortion of country shapes and aesthetics, others praise it for its accurate representation of landmass sizes and reduction of Eurocentric bias. The Gall Peters world map has sparked a debate about the importance of accurate cartography and has influenced the creation of other map projections.