How Maps Reflect Change

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.

E. 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:

A. Exploration of the world

B. Technology such as satellites that take

pictures for mapping

C. GIS mapping software for computers

Place Names

Over time the names of places change.

Some examples are:

A. Formosa - Taiwan - Republic of China

B. Palestine - Israel - Occupied Territories

Boundaries

The boundaries of countries change for many reasons such as:

A. Decolonization

B. Wars

C. Countries break into smaller countries because people want self rule

D. Intervention of the United Nations

Decolonization

Colonization is when a country takes over

other countries or parts of the world. In the

late 1800’s 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. Once again, the

map of Europe had to be redrawn.

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. In 1948 and 1967 the maps of the Middle East had to be redrawn because Israel took over more territory.

Perspective of Place Names

A. Arabian Gulf or Persian Gulf?

B. Sea of Japan or East Sea?

C. Middle East or Southwest Asia?

Sometimes the name of a place is determined by where

you live or how you view the world.

Arabian Gulf or Persian Gulf ?

Southwest Asia or Middle East ?

Disputed Areas

The following areas are disputed so the

boundaries have changed several times:

A. Korea

B. Western Sahara

C. Former Yugoslavia

D. Kashmir

E. Alsace-Lorraine

Former Yugoslavia