Podcast Summary: "How the Compass Became a Political Weapon"

History Extra Podcast – Hosted by Spencer Mizzen | Produced by Immediate Media

Episode Release Date: January 6, 2025
Guest: Jerry Broughton, Author of Four Points of the Compass: The Unexpected History of Direction
Duration: Approximately 31 minutes

1. Introduction to the Episode

In this episode of the History Extra Podcast, host Spencer Mizzen engages in a deep conversation with Jerry Broughton, the author of Four Points of the Compass: The Unexpected History of Direction. The discussion delves into the intricate history of the four cardinal directions—north, south, east, and west—and explores how the compass evolved from a navigational tool into a symbol laden with political and cultural significance.

2. The Origins of Cardinal Directions

Jerry Broughton begins by tracing the origins of cardinal directions back to prehistoric times, emphasizing humanity's early understanding of the natural world through the movement of the sun and prevailing winds.

Jerry Broughton [01:26]:
"It's a good question because the more I did the research on it, the further back you go. And you could almost say that it starts when you first have an understanding, when humanity first sees the sunrise and the sunset."

Broughton explains that the basic four-directional system emerged from observable phenomena:

• East: Sunrise
• West: Sunset
• North/South: Determined by the sun's position at midday

He highlights how early agricultural societies relied on these directions to predict weather patterns and make informed decisions about farming.

3. Cultural Variations in Mapping

The conversation shifts to how different cultures independently developed their understanding of directions, often reflecting their unique environmental and social contexts.

Jerry Broughton [03:20]:
"What is extraordinary is that nearly all cultures, actually not all, but nearly all cultures that we know, have some sense of those directions based on the sun rising, the sun setting..."

Broughton notes that while most cultures recognize the four cardinal points, the orientation and prioritization of these directions vary:

• Mesopotamians: Described directions based on winds (e.g., Imkor and Immatu for northeastern and southwestern winds)
• Western Cultures: Typically place north at the top of maps
• Chinese Culture: Often orient maps with south at the top

Interestingly, he points out that no known culture historically prioritized the west at the top of their maps, associating it more with negative connotations like death and darkness.

4. The Compass and Its Adoption

The introduction and adoption of the compass marked a significant shift in how societies navigated and represented the world.

Jerry Broughton [13:15]:
"I started this book by thinking that it was a story. We'd think about the compass because the compass is obviously oriented according to the earth's magnetic field."

Broughton discusses the mysterious origins of the compass in Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries, contrasting it with the Chinese use of south-pointing compasses primarily for feng shui and architectural purposes. The widespread adoption of the compass in Europe led to north being standardized at the top of maps, a convention that persists today.

5. Political and Cultural Connotations of Directions

Over time, the cardinal directions transcended their navigational purposes, becoming symbols infused with political and cultural meanings.

Jerry Broughton [15:52]:
"These directional terms then take on this political connotation. So we start to understand ourselves, we say we in the west as opposed to them in the East."

Broughton explores how terms like "the Orient" and "the West" have been used to construct cultural identities and stereotypes. He references Edward Said's Orientalism to illustrate how Western narratives have historically depicted Eastern societies as exotic, backward, or despotic, thereby reinforcing a dichotomy between "us" and "them."

Further, he discusses the fluidity and subjectivity of these terms depending on geographical and cultural contexts:

Jerry Broughton [18:17]:
"It's quite subjective and it becomes what I say in the book, quite situated. So it depends where you are on the globe."

6. Notable Maps and Cultural Artifacts

Broughton highlights significant maps and images that have shaped our perception of the world and reinforced the dominance of certain directional conventions.

a. NASA's Whole Earth Image

One of the most iconic images discussed is NASA's Whole Earth Image from the early 1970s.

Jerry Broughton [25:18]:
"NASA first got the contact strip of the photographs, the astronauts... had taken the photograph with south at the top. And NASA looked at it and thought, we can't use that because globally people won't recognize the image. So they flipped it, they put north at the top."

This decision underscores the ingrained preference for north-oriented maps and images in Western culture, even in the context of space exploration.

b. Gerard Mercator's 1569 Map

Another significant artifact is Gerard Mercator's 1569 world map.

Jerry Broughton [25:18]:
"Mercator's projection is one for navigators... he put north at the top. But what's really interesting is that Chinese compasses are all south pointing."

Mercator's projection not only facilitated European navigation but also inadvertently reinforced north's dominance by placing it at the top, despite the map's primary aim to aid in sailing east-west routes.

7. The Shift to Digital Navigation and Its Implications

In the latter part of the episode, Broughton discusses the modern transition from traditional compass-based navigation to digital route-finding technologies, such as GPS and smartphone maps.

Jerry Broughton [29:32]:
"The future of the cardinal points may be that they disappear... Our brains may be changing because since humanity sort of first emerged, we were able to understand and orientate ourselves according to those cardinal directions."

He expresses concern over the potential loss of innate navigational skills as reliance on technology grows. The "blue dot" on digital maps represents the user's location, potentially diminishing the importance of understanding and utilizing traditional cardinal directions. Broughton cites neurological studies indicating that extensive use of digital navigation may lead to changes in the brain's hippocampus, a region associated with spatial memory and navigation.

8. Conclusion

The episode concludes by reflecting on the profound impact that something as fundamental as the compass has had on shaping human understanding, cultural identities, and political landscapes. Jerry Broughton's insights reveal how the simple act of orienting a map can wield significant power, influencing everything from individual identities to global geopolitics.

For listeners interested in the broader history of mapmaking, Spencer Mizzen recommends an episode featuring Geri on The Life and Legacy of Marie Tharp, a pioneering geologist and cartographer who played a crucial role in mapping the ocean floor.

Further Reading:

• Four Points of the Compass: The Unexpected History of Direction by Jerry Broughton
• Orientalism by Edward Said
• The Decline of the West by Oswald Spengler

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