Mapping the world, or our perspective?

Looking at a map can tell an individual many things, it can depict changes in terrain, show roads, and identify cities, but what else does it tell us?  After reading How Maps Lie by Leah Fleckenstein, I have a whole new perspective on maps and their meanings.  To say all new perspective, I have to be honest, the only perspective I've ever had on maps was utilizing them to commute through states and cities, and to manage the terrain in Iraq and Afghanistan.  After joining the military, I should've recognized the difference that maps can make from one person or another.  For example, if you were to tell an Iraqi that has lived in Al Anbar Province his entire life to take Route Michigan to Camp Korean Village, he would look at you as if you were mad.  The simple act of renaming towns and streets can change a persons perspective on a place, whether one admits it or not.

The entire process of developing a map can be both arduous and time consuming, however, the due diligence must be done in order for accuracy to be achieved.  Over the years maps have become more and more sophisticated and the ability to manufacture these maps have become easier and easier thanks to satellite capabilities.  But how can these maps of the past help us determine the pop culture of the time it was written?  The ability to manipulate maps has been perfected over the years, especially during times of war.  Utilizing a map and using certain colors the map maker can imply falsities and can trick people into believing one thing versus the truth.  The Nazis utilized this very practice to gain favor within Germany.

I'm more interested in utilizing maps in order to show the progression of a society.  Using things such as maps and graphs have given historians the ability to visually transmit history.  We've only been in this class for a few weeks, and I've already found new ways of showing history to individuals that may not be as interested in it.  As we continue class, my partner and I have narrowed down our project and it will include an elaborate view of Fort Hill Plantation, and will (hopefully) allow people outside the state to visually see the house and its progression over the years.  Many pictures will be taken in the weeks to come, and I need to meet with a web designer to figure out the process of making the project a success. I will post pictures of the progression as I see fit, after all, I don't want to ruin the surprise.  Stay tuned.

-Jason