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(@damon-liang)
Estimable Member
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 64
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The map reveals that the mapmaker has a eurocentric focus. The mapmaker is not very cognizant of the African population, and thus simply shows the material in a way that represents his/her opinions. Further, the mapmaker is not truly aware of all of the peoples that he is drawing. He paints in broad strokes and generalities, and simply assumes that things are the way they are. Interestingly, the depiction of Africa is not particularly dehumanizing, but it does show some fundamental gaps in the understanding of African culture. 


   
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(@mandy-rodgers-gates)
Eminent Member
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 15
 

Yes, Eurocentric for sure. But one of the striking things to me about the Catalan Atlas is the way it does complicate some of our typical ways of thinking about world history and particularly the relationship between Africa and Europe. We often think of the relationship between Europe and Africa (at least sub-saharan) as beginning with the slave trade and limited to the slave trade in that time period. But this atlas demonstrates that at least some Europeans - nobility, merchants, etc. - were aware of not just north Africa but also that there were groups and societies populating the interior of Africa, knew there was great wealth there, and understood those groups as playing a part in a complex web of global trade and cultural/religious influence. 


   
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