GEO 370 - Maps, Territory, Power

Modern mapping developed in concert with modern states and empires, as administrators have sought to understand and control provinces and regions. This course explores the roles of maps in creating, consolidating, and communicating knowledge of, and control over, territory. The course focuses on the West, including the U.S., and especially on the role of the state in the development of modern cartography, GIS, and modern GIS databases. Comparative studies will be made of “state” mapping practices in the classical (Hellenistic and Roman) era, medieval Europe, and traditional Asia (SW Asia, India, China, Korea, and Japan). Also considered is the role of mapping in resistance to exertions of state power. This course uses the rare and reference collections of USM’s Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education [OML] - together with online resources - to explore the interrelations of maps, territory, and power.

Prerequisite(s):
Co-requisite(s):
Credits: 3

Course Typically Offered:
Course Type: Geography

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