2. The Map Thief: 6. Interesting item learned about maps or collecting,

[Carol]

6. What is something interesting you learned about maps and or map collecting?

[Angela]

It was really interesting how the different European countries viewed maps and the role they played in settling and claiming lands.

[Ayse_]

Maps definitely served in men's effort to explore the world, however original inhabitants probably could have faired better without this if you think in terms of colonialism

[Carol]

Ayse---help me out here. What is your point about Colonialism? When I was a student in school, in some of the books we used, copies of original maps were used to help us get a grasp of the lay of the land, how the waters flowed, etc. Being a cartographer is an amazing art form and the masterful way they go about it is amazing to me.

[Cindy]

I never thought about the fact that, unlike most art, there are generally multiple originals (i.e. From original printings) of valuable maps out there, but rarely does anyone know exactly how many. It makes theft and resell so easy!

[Ayse_]

OK Carol. So here's the definition of colonialism:
the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

even form the definition, one can sense that it can easily lead into conflict of aspirations and expectations, even when its only natural habitat.

I really find it very funny and at times arrogant when someone describes a piece of land 'barren' when they are perfectly aware that there is a fauna and flora that had survived on it for thousands of years.

When people discover a land; they forget that its been there already, the discovery only binds themselves and the ones like them, what has been discovered already knew what it was, and what it stood for.. Even the idea that all the world continued to call some people indians for so long and only agreed to change this to native american recently, is a sign of that.

I am not blaming, just observing, its human nature and humanity is evolving, but oh so slowly....

[Ruth]

Interesting comments above--I found it also interesting that people collect maps in a particular group--such as maps from Northwest America, or maps from early 1800s, or maps from where their ancestors came from, etc

[Chelsea]

The map with California as an island was interesting!! But I thought it was funny how France and England fought over their land in America based on how the maps were drawn. The better map was the one that was used, so good cartographers were a must for claiming land.

I also found it interesting that Smiley could tell if the map was originally made or if it was a copy cat of another map, and what features were copied.