1908 “Evil Mercator” Speech

Goode’s 1908 speech at the American Association of Geographers on the Evil Mercator

In 1908, J. Paul Goode delivered a pivotal speech at the American Association of Geographers. He challenged the longstanding dominance of the Mercator projection in geographic education and mapmaking. This speech, often referred to as the “Evil Mercator” speech, highlighted the flaws of the Mercator projection. It also pointed out its widespread misuse in classrooms and cartographic practices. This speech sparked a movement toward more precise map projections for teaching and practical purposes.

The Context of Goode’s Critique

The Mercator projection, developed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569, was designed as a navigational tool. Its primary feature is that it preserves angles and directions, making it invaluable for sea travel. Still, this comes at the cost of distorting the size and shape of landmasses, especially near the poles. Areas like Greenland and Antarctica vastly larger than they actually are, while equatorial regions are compressed. This distortion had significant implications. It affected how people perceived the size and importance of various regions of the world. It led to a Eurocentric view in global geography.

By the early 20th century, the Mercator projection had become entrenched in educational materials, particularly in the United States. Maps in schools and atlases commonly featured the Mercator projection, despite its distortions. Goode, a geography professor and advocate for map accuracy, saw this as a serious problem.

Key Points of Goode’s Speech

In his 1908 speech, Goode outlined the primary issues with the Mercator projection, particularly its use in education. His key arguments included:

1. Misrepresentation of Landmasses: Goode argued that the Mercator projection drastically inflated the size of landmasses in the higher latitudes. This created a misleading view of the world. Greenland, for instance, appeared nearly as large as Africa, when in reality Africa is 14 times larger. This distortion gave undue prominence to regions like Europe and North America. It did so at the expense of equatorial and southern hemisphere countries.
2. Cultural and Political Bias: Goode saw the widespread use of the Mercator projection as reinforcing a Eurocentric worldview. The projection’s distortion of land areas contributed to a perception that Europe was more significant than it actually was. It also made its colonial possessions more significant. This, Goode argued, had the effect of perpetuating colonialist ideologies and skewing students’ understanding of global geography.
3. Inappropriate for General Use: Goode emphasized that while the Mercator projection was ideal for navigation. Nevertheless, it was ill-suited for general geographic reference. It was also unsuited for educational purposes. He pointed out that teaching students about the world using such a distorted map would lead to fundamental misunderstandings. Students would have incorrect views about the relative size and importance of different regions.
4. Call for Alternative Projections: Goode was not just critical of the Mercator projection. He also advocated for the use of different map projections. These projections presented a more precise portrayal of the world’s geography. He promoted the use of equal-area projections. Examples include the Mollweide or the Hammer projection. These projections preserved the relative size of landmasses. They also provided a more truthful depiction of the Earth’s surface.

The Aftermath and Goode’s Contribution to Cartography

Goode’s speech marked a turning point in the debate over map projections in education. His critiques of the Mercator projection resonated with many geographers and educators who were similarly frustrated with its shortcomings. In response to these concerns, Goode developed his own projection. It was the Goode’s Homolosine Projection. This projection merged elements of the Mollweide and Sinusoidal projections. Introduced in 1923, Goode’s projection aimed to reduce distortion in both areas. It also minimized shape distortions. This made it a more suitable choice for educational maps.

Goode’s Homolosine Projection became widely adopted in textbooks and atlases, particularly in the United States. It remains a popular choice for representing global data in a way that accurately reflects the true size of landmasses. His advocacy for equal-area projections helped shift the focus in cartography toward more scientifically sound representations of the Earth’s surface. He influenced both academic and popular cartography in the 20th century.

Legacy of the “Evil Mercator” Speech

Goode’s 1908 speech is remembered as a significant moment in the history of cartography. Goode challenged the Mercator projection’s dominance. He helped pave the way for more precise and fair representations of the world in maps. His critique also highlighted the power of maps to shape our understanding of the world. It demonstrated that the choices cartographers make are not just technical, but also political and cultural.

Today, the Mercator projection remains in use for specific purposes. It is especially used in web mapping services. Its limitations are widely recognized. This is thanks in part to the efforts of cartographers like Goode. His work serves as a reminder. We must critically evaluate the tools and techniques we use to represent the world around us.