Not all maps are created equal.

In fact, most are completely misleading.

Since the 16th century, the majority of cartographers have used the Mercator

projection when designing maps. Originally created to help in marine navigation, it became a major

resource for sailors. And considering that for a few centuries, those were some of the only

people who actually needed to use a world map on a day-to-day basis, that's the

version that stuck. But if you're not a pirate, then those maps are just a headache. They may

be helpful when you're on the high seas, but they also distort the sizes of all the actual continents.

The farther a landmass is from the equator, the bigger it appears. Warm countries seem smaller than they actually

are, while cold places seem much larger. For example, in the Mercator projection, Greenland looks

significantly bigger than Africa, when it's actually the other way around. Europe looks to be

roughly the same size as South America when it's significantly smaller. I think you get the

idea. But the problem goes a little deeper than simple factual accuracy. These incorrect images

can subtly influence people to believe that their country is bigger and therefore more important

than it actually is, an easy trap for most people to fall into.

It's a powerful misconception. All of us have a tendency to believe our neck of the woods

is the most important, that our perspective isn't mere opinion, but definitive fact.

And naturally, people throughout history have allowed that inflated sense of self-importance

to drive their

actions, no matter how many people they hurt in the process. And if the stories that are

whispered down in the state of Alabama are any indication, a lot of darkness and tragedy

can be created when small men act big. I'm Aaron Mankey, and this is lore legends.

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