why your image of the world could be wrong

WTF?

Maps aren’t always accurate…

The reasons just vary…

It’s good and bad…

THE WORLDReal life myths…

Peters vs Mercator

• Mercator – 1569 / Peters – 1974• The ‘Greenland problem’• Colonial power bias or Convenience• North vs South

THE TUBEReal life myths…

Henry Beck

• Electrical draughtsman background• Stripped to the basics• Clarity• Influential• Has it reached it’s limits?

SOLVING LONGITUDETime for a story…

What is latitude?

• North/South position of a point on the earth• Relatively easy to determine

What is longitude?

• East/West position of a point on the earth• Easy on land, but hard to determine at sea

Why was this a problem?

• Slowed down journeys• It could be solved with clocks• The sea fluctuates• Led to many shipwrecks

Enough was enough!

• By the 1700s, sea trade was too valuable• A prize was announced for £20,000 (£2.87

million)

Enter John Harrison

• 1693 – 1776• Trained as a carpenter

The Harrison clock(s)

• 1730• Used some wooden

components• No pendulum

Finally… The Sea watch

• 1759, Harrison is now 66

• 5.2”• A considerable feat of

engineering

Trials and Tribulations

• Trial after trial…• Clocks vs Sky• Fighting the establishment• Captain Cook• Cost• Took until the 1800s to finally be recognised

Want to know more?

THE QUEST FOR PRESTER JOHNNew knowledge leads to legend

Who or What?

• Popular in Europe 1th-17th Centuries

• His ‘land’ contained many other myths

• Draws on other legends of the East – Alexander, Sinbad

• India, Central Asia, Ethiopia

The Letter of Prester John

• 1165• The legend is rekindled

Good news! We found him!

Actually no…

The Fearsome Mongols…

End of the legend

• By 17th Century• Inspired many explorers• Even found it’s way into

fiction…

BORNHOLMMaps leading to what maybe isn’t there…

Sacred geometry

LOST LANDSMissing from Maps

Atlantis

Many other mythical lands

• Hyperborea• Thule• Mu• Lemuria• Shangri-La• El Dorado

Many that actually existed

• Sundaland• Zealandia• Kerguelen Plateau• Beringia• Doggerland• Maui Nui• Verdronken Land van Reimerswaal• Strand• Jordsand• Ferdinandea• Sarah Ann Island

Summary

The World and our view of it are always changing

• GPS• Mobile Maps• Climate Change• Cultural viewpoints

Thank you!

@chrischinch