# Maps

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maps/570220>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [February 4, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maps/570220 "2011-02-04T23:39:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![luis82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/df705f/32.png) [@luis82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luis82)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maps/570220/1 "2011-02-04T23:39:15Z")

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I noticed that Bethlehem, Israel, where Jesus is believed to have been born, is pretty close to the center of the map. Could this be why maps are drawn the way they are?

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LINK TO COLUMN: [On maps, why is north always up? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/441/on-maps-why-is-north-always-up)

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**Author:** ![brocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@brocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brocks)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maps/570220/2 "2011-02-05T00:07:54Z")

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The center of what map?

But if you’re asking what I think you are, then the answer is that maps are often drawn to reflect the tastes of the mapmaker.

I remember many years ago, when I was in the army and stationed in Germany, I noticed that German world maps had Europe in the middle, with the US off to one side, instead of the proper way, i.e. with the US in the middle, and Asia split in half, one half on each edge of the map.

Crazy Germans.

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**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maps/570220/3 "2011-02-05T01:35:43Z")

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A proper map wouldn’t split Asia in two. [Cite](http://strangemaps.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/newyorker2.JPG).

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**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maps/570220/4 "2011-02-05T01:39:45Z")

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There’s already a thread on this subject [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=593080).

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maps/570220/5 "2011-02-05T13:43:11Z")

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Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, **luis82** , we’re glad to have you with us.

For future ref, when you start a thread, it’s helpful to other readers to provide a link to the column, so we know what you’re talking about and so we’re all on the same page. I’ve edited it into your post, no biggie, you’ll know for next time.

Since there’s already a thread on this topic, I’m going to close this one. I do think your comment is very pertinent, however, and I’d like to suggest that you re-post it in the other thread. OK?

Again, welcome!