What the Africa Map 1800 Reveals
Centuries ago, many Europeans went on different expeditions to the different regions of the globe previously unexplored. These expeditions led to the making of maps where cartographers interpreted and visualized the descriptions and tales of explorers. These maps then became a useful tool to others who went on similar routes and expeditions.Centuries ago, many Europeans went on different expeditions to the different regions of the globe previously unexplored. These expeditions led to the making of maps where cartographers interpreted and visualized the descriptions and tales of explorers. These maps then became a useful tool to others who went on similar routes and expeditions.Some of those original maps, made by famous cartographers a few centuries ago are now kept safe in libraries. Replicas are made mainly for universities concerned in studying those regions since maps can give information on how people viewed the world before, and it can be used to trace the routes taken by explorers.Some of the most famous expeditions taken in the 18th and 19th centuries were in the continent of Africa. Those who are familiar with the Africa Map 1800 and with the present map of the continent would easily see the remarkable difference in the borders of the countries in those areas.Expansion of KnowledgeThere are many reasons for the difference of an Africa Map 1800 with the present maps. One would be that the variation in the maps of Africa is actually an effect of the Europeans expansion of knowledge of Africa. As more and more explorers went on voyages, different regions where most of the world had no knowledge of were being discovered.ColonialismAnother force that changed the maps is the increasing colonial control of European countries in the continent.
As different countries gained and lost control and power over those regions, borders started to shift as time went on. As a result, there are now different maps of the area two centuries ago and of the present.ConflictsAnother factor that may have contributed much to the deviations in the Africa Map 1800 and those in the present African maps are the internal conflicts within the continent. The conflicts and tensions for borders and even of independence are so prevalent even today; such is the case in Sudan.
Posted on June 9, 2010 by admin