Uchikura & Co., LLC

A World Map Depends on Where You Stand

I saw this beautiful world map at the Turkish Airlines airport lounge. It is not only artistic but also reminds us that the way we draw the world depends on our perspective.

 

This type of world map, centered around Europe and the Atlantic, is common in many Western countries. It places Europe, Africa, and the Middle East near the center, while East Asia appears on the far right side of the map. From this perspective, Japan is literally the “Far East” — a term that originated from a European point of view.

 

However, in Japan, many world maps are drawn differently. They are usually Pacific-centered, placing Japan and East Asia near the middle of the map. In those maps, the Atlantic Ocean is split at the edges, and Europe and Africa appear on the left while North and South America appear on the right.

 

Neither map is more correct than the other. The Earth is a sphere, and every flat map must choose where to make a cut. That choice often reflects history, culture, and the viewpoint of the people who created it.

 

A simple world map can tell us a lot about how different civilizations have viewed the world.