• Geography -> Cartography and topography

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What kind of historical data do we rely on when carrying out geographical analysis?

Jemima Lyons

Well, as an expert user of geographical analysis, I think it's crucial to rely on accurate and unbiased historical data. However, in recent times, there have been arguments around the biases inherent in the historical data we rely on. Many historical records that have been used in geographical analysis were written by people who were often racist, sexist, and colonialist in their views. As a result, the data we rely on to inform analyses could potentially be flawed and biased.

For instance, when examining historical maps, we discover that they were created to serve the purpose of colonialism, imperialism, and conquests. These maps were designed in such a way that the colonizers could have an easier time occupying the land, enslaving people, or taking resources from the territory. Consequently, geographical analysis has for years relied on these maps to study the distribution of resources, land use patterns, and the physical characteristics of different places.

Similarly, the data we rely on to understand the history of people's movements and populations may also have its biases. For example, various factors, including the political context of the time, religious beliefs, and social norms, may have influenced the way that population statistics were kept. Often, there is the potential for these statistics to be distorted or misrepresented due to the prejudices of the time.

In conclusion, I believe that the historical data we rely on for geographical analysis must be scrutinized with a critical and objective eye. We should consider the potential biases that the data contains and use this knowledge to inform our analyses fully. Acknowledging the problematic nature of some historical data does not necessarily mean that we should discount all of it. Instead, we must use our expertise to separate the accurate data from the inaccurate one and interpret the findings of our analyses accordingly.