I noticed this stuff in 2 different classes in university:
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We europeans put Europe in center of world maps
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You americans put USA in the center
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My teacher showed a japanese map. Guess it: Japan was in the center
Seems each culture put her homeland in the center of world maps. Certain muslim map of 15th century has muslim countries up and in the center and european infidels countries down. Ancient greek maps have Greece in the center. Tolkien made a map of Middle Earth in The Hobbit and put the west up (west is where live Middle Earth gods, the valar).
So, what about our axis&allies maps? Revised map is american made, but has Russia in the center, so I guess Larry wants make Moscow the center of all the game (probably by gameplay reasons). AAE has Germany in the center and AAP has … the Pacific seas in the center.
I think this is interesting at least, how the interests of the map maker can change the map center and up zones. Maybe all cultures are etnocentrist. Thoughts?