What is a map?A question that could be answered in a vast amount of ways but yet with such vague definitions.I am on a mission to find the real definition of a map and  maps that could be used for different intended purposes. The main aim of this mission is to bring awareness to people across the world since even after the end of slave trade Africa especially is being undermined. 

      I understand countries in Africa are undermined for some reason that are sometimes true but these usually few countries tarnish the image of all African countries in general. This has lead to us being undermined in so many ways and is evident in many ways like African countries never have fair trades among the first and second world countries another is shown in the mercator’s map this shows Africa to be approximately the same size as europe when in reality africa is four times larger than europe.

     The book “How To Lie With Maps” by Mark Monmonier, this book so far has taught me not to believe maps since maps are usually used to manipulate and  distort information which are then used to support a specific agenda.The books speaks about how cartographers can easily mislead viewers by omitting, exaggerating or even altering information he said this could be intentional or sometimes unintentional. Monomier thinks a map is a tool for abstraction and communication, designed to distil spatial information in a way that is useful for human comprehension, he also highlights this process involves selective representation and simplification. Mark Monmonier makes me want to believe that the intention of the mercator map was to make some continents  feel superior and make others feel inferior.

     At this point, I think the map was made with the aim to start slave trade. The map was published in 1569 and slave trade began not long after in 1619. I think the map was published with the intention of making Africa and its people think of themselves to be smaller, therefore weaker than they were, so they would not fight back if they were attacked and win any wars or fight mentally before anything physical actually begins. 

    Reading and researching about maps has made me learn not to be gullible and find the answer to my question myself rather than to just find items or materials to read or research on. From all that I have written and found out I think a map is whatever you want to make it. I think a map is the path I have taken and the adventure I just began, which is Muhlenberg.