According to many, maps have long been considered a tool of navigation, whether that is getting from one place to another or transmitting geographical information onto paper. However, in recent years, authors, like J.B. Harley, have challenged this idea saying that this is not necessarily true. In his essay Text and Context in the Interpretation of Early Maps, Harley argues that maps are neither neutral nor value-free and that each map argues its particular case. This stands to claim that maps are more than simply there to transmit geographical information; they are a place where people can justify that they can dominate with power.
That being said, maps are shaped by their social, political, and cultural contexts. In Harley’s texts, he claims that maps are a form of power, that visually asserts control and authority over land. He notes that early colonial maps were used as a tool of imperialism, designed to present territories. They would do this by distorting the maps and their size so it would influence others creating a sense of dominance. This is how social, political, and cultural contexts shaped maps.
Additionally, this stands true to the idea that maps transmit more than information. Peter Turchi’s idea is that maps are metaphorical representations that shape our understanding of the world. He describes the idea that maps not only depict space but also convey the desires and priorities of their makers. Turchi’s analysis reinforces Harley’s claim that maps are never neutral. These maps were influenced by the Europen’s ideas and were used as tools for shaping and communicating specific worldviews.
Furthermore, the idea that maps transmit more than just geographic information is shown when the figures of the mapmakers reflect deeper political or ideological motivations. In Stephen Hall’s I, Mercator, he highlights how maps, rather than transmitting geographical information, they are used as tools for shaping how people understand the world. This links to the idea that Hall claims: that mapmakers consciously crafted maps to legitimize European claims to newly discovered lands.
Ultimately, as seen throughout numerous texts, maps are more than pieces of paper to transmit information. In fact, they should not be viewed as neutral or value-free documents. As Harley, Turchi, and Hall all argue, maps are tools of power used to control and justify power. By analyzing maps, many can uncover the hidden meanings and power dynamics that are written deep below the surface and in each stroke, revealing why maps shape not only understanding of geography, but history and power.
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