经济学人08:制图史 世界景象

 　　Books and Arts; Book Review;

　　文艺；书评；

　　A history of mapmaking;Views of the world;

　　地图史;世界景象;

　　There is no such thing as an objective map;

　　准确地图谁见了;

　　A History of the World in Twelve Maps. By Jerry Brotton.

　　《12幅地图中的世界历史》，作者杰里·布洛顿。

　　Around 150AD an astronomer¹ named Claudius Ptolemy wrote a book about how to make a proper map of the world. Penned in Greek on a papyrus² scroll³, the work, known as the “Geography”, is one of the most famous ancient texts on the science of mapmaking. It placed the job firmly in the domain⁴ of the geographer⁵, who could use astronomy and mathematics to calculate from the stars what the world looked like below.

　　公元150年前后，一位名叫克劳狄斯·托勒密的天文学家写了一本关于如何恰当绘制世界地图的书。该书用希腊文书写在一卷莎草上，这部被称为《地理学》的著作是地图制图学方面最著名的古文献之一。该书毫不含糊地将这项工作归于地理学家范畴，因为地理学家可以使用天文学和数学知识推测从星球上观测下面的地球是什么样子。

　　Ptolemy's “Geography” was an attempt to take myths out of maps. It recommended using geometric lines of latitude⁶ and longitude⁷ to convey a three-dimensional Earth on a two-dimensional surface, and it included the co-ordinates of over 8,000 locations in the ancient world. Whether Ptolemy drew his own maps is unclear. The “Geography” disappeared for a thousand years, only for an unoriginal copy to appear in the 13th century, replete⁸ with coloured maps drawn⁹ by Byzantine scribes. Regardless, these geographic¹⁰ drawings and all other maps based on scientific calculation are his legacy¹¹.

　　托勒密的这部《地理学》试图揭开地图的神秘面纱。它告诉人们如何用经纬线这样的几何线条在二维的平面上表现出三维的地球来，书中还有古代世界8000多个地点的坐标。托勒密是否亲手绘制地图，目前尚不可知。《地理学》曾消失了一千年，直到13世纪才有一个副本出现，这个副本里倒是有很多拜占庭抄书官绘制的彩色地图。不管怎样，这些经过科学计算的地理绘图和其它地图都是他留给后人的宝贵财富。

　　But as Jerry Brotton explains in “A History of the World in Twelve Maps”, Ptolemy's scientific influence tells only part of the story. Mapmakers operate in environments of subjective¹² knowledge. Their work is influenced by politics and patrons, regional assumptions and religious beliefs, all of which jostles with the science in determining what a map looks like and what it is used for. Mapmakers may be geographers¹³ and cartographers, but they can also be artists and imperialists, storytellers and propagandists.

　　但正如杰里·布洛顿在《12幅地图中的世界史》中解释的那样，托勒密的科学影响力只是这个故事的部分。地图绘制者生存的环境主观色彩浓厚，他们的工作受到政治、赞助人、区域假设以及宗教信仰等因素的影响，在确定地图的面貌及用途时，这些因素与科学相互碰撞。地图绘制者可能是地理学家和制图专家，但他们同时也可能既是艺术家又是帝国主义者，既是故事讲述人又是宣传分子。

　　Mr Brotton, a professor of Renaissance¹⁴ Studies at Queen Mary University of London, examines the complexity¹⁵ of mapmaking through the stories of 12 maps, which stretch across space and over time. The examples are impressively varied¹⁶, from Ptolemy's toils¹⁷ to Google Earth, and include some lesser-known Islamic and East Asian works. Despite their differences, these maps enjoy some intriguing¹⁸ similarities, largely for the way they illustrate¹⁹ the priorities of their authors.

　　作为伦敦玛丽女王大学文艺复兴研究的教授，布洛顿先生通过12幅地图的讲述对绘图的复杂性进行了考察。这些地图跨度巨大，分属于不同时期、不同地区，既有托勒密艰苦劳作的产物，也有谷歌地球，还有一些更鲜为人知的伊斯兰作品和东亚作品。尽管它们之间各不相同，但也有一些有趣的相似之处，主要是由于这些地图反映了制图者在制图时所考虑的优先次序的方式。

　　The medieval Mappa Mundi in England's Hereford cathedral, for example, is little more than drawings on vellum, or stretched calfskin, and it lacks Ptolemy's geometric method. Yet it is a beautifully detailed²⁰ map of the Christian²¹ world, based on the topography of the Bible—bewildering to the geographer, but sensible to people of faith. Oriented east, Jerusalem sits at the centre. Britain clings insignificantly²² to the edge.

　　比如，中世纪制作的英格兰赫里福德教堂世界地图不过是些绘在羔皮、或者说拉伸了的犊皮上的图案，没有使用托勒密的几何方法。但这幅基督教界的地图，取材于圣经上的记录，细节做得非常漂亮。这张地图让地理学家困惑不解，但对于基督徒来说则是顺理成章。它以东方为重心，把耶路撒冷放在地图的正中，英国则偏居一隅。

　　Time would change this view of the world in the eyes of British mapmakers. By the 19th century maps often placed the British Isles²³ at the core. One such map in the book features a view of the globe with Britain and the North Atlantic in the centre to better portray²⁴ the empire's sea power; Australia and half of South America are left off. Many of these maps, like those of the Spanish and Portuguese²⁵ imperialists of the 16th century, did more to illustrate dominance and ambition than to improve cartographical practice.

　　在英国制图者看来，人们对于世界的看法会随着时间的改变而改变。到了19世纪，不列颠群岛常被放在地图的中心。这本书中就有一幅这样的全球地图，将英国和北大西洋放在中心位置，以更好地彰显大英帝国的海洋实力。澳大利亚以及半个南美竟被忽落。这其中的很多地图，比如16世纪西班牙和葡萄牙的地图，更多地是为了显示帝国的统治和野心，而不是为了提高制图技术。

　　Even now, when mapmakers have access to tools such as satellite images, there is still no objective and universally accepted map, argues Mr Brotton. “The idea of the world may be common to all societies; but different societies have very distinct ideas of the world and how it should be represented.” The author reckons that Google Earth and other digital mapping applications are just as vulnerable as their predecessors²⁶ to national priorities and cultural norms. These maps can be cluttered²⁷ with links to commercial enterprises and are subject to censorship. At their most penetrating²⁸, they raise questions of privacy.

　　布洛顿先生认为，即便是现在，虽然绘图者有卫星影像这样的工具可用，准确的、可被普遍接受的地图依然难觅。“世界的概念对所有的社会来说是可能是共同的，但不同的社会中的世界概念及其表现形式千差万别”。作者认为，谷歌地球以及其他的数字制图程序与其前身一样，在国家利益和文化传统面前都显得脆弱不堪。这些地图与商业有着千丝万缕的联系，并且要遵守各种各样的审查制度。最严重的还会牵扯到隐私问题。

　　Though he sets out to examine a mere²⁹ 12 maps, Mr Brotton cannot help but give dozens more at least a passing mention. Ironically, this can be disorienting. Still, there is much to gain from this rich if overly detailed book. As the products of both art and science, maps are often fascinating interpretations³⁰ of the perceived world. They are about data and spatial³¹ awareness³², but also about money, empire and discovery. They tend to reveal more about the mapmakers than the lands they chronicle. Mr Brotton may fall short of providing the promised “history of the world”, but he offers plenty of good reasons to see old maps as windows to lost times.

　　尽管最初着手研究的地图只有区区12幅，但布洛顿先生在书中提及的地图却有很多，令人啼笑皆非地是，这可能让读者有些找不到方向。但不管怎样，只要你仔细阅读定会受益良多。地图既是艺术品，又是科学产品，常常是对这个被感知世界的美妙诠释。这些地图呈现给读者的是数据和空间感，但它也涉及到金钱、帝国和发现，向人们提供更多的是地图背后那些地图制作者的故事。布洛顿先生可能没有提供给读者所谓的“世界历史”，但是，他提供了大量理由来解释，为什么可将看老地图作为了解已逝时代的窗口。

1 astronomer   

n.天文学家

参考例句：

• A new star attracted the notice of the astronomer.新发现的一颗星引起了那位天文学家的注意。
• He is reputed to have been a good astronomer.他以一个优秀的天文学者闻名于世。

2 papyrus   

n.古以纸草制成之纸

参考例句：

• The Egyptians wrote on papyrus.埃及人书写用薄草纸。
• Since papyrus dries up and crumble,very few documents of ancient Egypt have survived.因草片会干裂成粉末所以古埃及的文件很少保存下来。

3 scroll   

n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡

参考例句：

• As I opened the scroll,a panorama of the Yellow River unfolded.我打开卷轴时，黄河的景象展现在眼前。
• He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements.他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。

4 domain   

n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围

参考例句：

• This information should be in the public domain.这一消息应该为公众所知。
• This question comes into the domain of philosophy.这一问题属于哲学范畴。

5 geographer   

n.地理学者

参考例句：

• His grandfather is a geographer.他的祖父是一位地理学家。
• Li Siguang is a famous geographer.李四光是一位著名的地理学家。

6 latitude   

n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区

参考例句：

• The latitude of the island is 20 degrees south.该岛的纬度是南纬20度。
• The two cities are at approximately the same latitude.这两个城市差不多位于同一纬度上。

7 longitude   

n.经线，经度

参考例句：

• The city is at longitude 21°east.这个城市位于东经21度。
• He noted the latitude and longitude,then made a mark on the admiralty chart.他记下纬度和经度，然后在航海图上做了个标记。

8 replete   

adj.饱满的，塞满的；n.贮蜜蚁

参考例句：

• He was replete with food and drink.他吃喝得饱饱的。
• This immense space may be replete with happiness and glory.这巨大的空间可能充满了幸福和光荣。

9 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

10 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

11 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

12 subjective   

a.主观(上)的，个人的

参考例句：

• The way they interpreted their past was highly subjective. 他们解释其过去的方式太主观。
• A literary critic should not be too subjective in his approach. 文学评论家的看法不应太主观。

13 geographers   

地理学家( geographer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Geographers study the configuration of the mountains. 地理学家研究山脉的地形轮廓。
• Many geographers now call this landmass Eurasia. 许多地理学家现在把这块陆地叫作欧亚大陆。

14 renaissance   

n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴

参考例句：

• The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement.文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
• The theme of the conference is renaissance Europe.大会的主题是文艺复兴时期的欧洲。

15 complexity   

n.复杂(性)，复杂的事物

参考例句：

• Only now did he understand the full complexity of the problem.直到现在他才明白这一问题的全部复杂性。
• The complexity of the road map puzzled me.错综复杂的公路图把我搞糊涂了。

16 varied   

adj.多样的，多变化的

参考例句：

• The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
• The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。

17 toils   

网

参考例句：

• It did not declare him to be still in Mrs. Dorset's toils. 这并不表明他仍陷于多赛特夫人的情网。
• The thief was caught in the toils of law. 这个贼陷入了法网。

18 intriguing   

adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心

参考例句：

• These discoveries raise intriguing questions. 这些发现带来了非常有趣的问题。
• It all sounds very intriguing. 这些听起来都很有趣。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 illustrate   

v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图

参考例句：

• The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
• This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。

20 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

21 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

22 insignificantly   

参考例句：

• Its returns are insignificantly small compared with the investments. 比及投资，它的回报是非常小的。
• Our budget will only be insignificantly affected by these new cuts. 我们的预算只会受到这些新削减的轻微影响。

23 isles   

岛( isle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the geology of the British Isles 不列颠群岛的地质
• The boat left for the isles. 小船驶向那些小岛。

24 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

25 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

26 predecessors   

n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身

参考例句：

• The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Will new plan be any more acceptable than its predecessors? 新计划比原先的计划更能令人满意吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 cluttered   

v.杂物，零乱的东西零乱vt.( clutter的过去式和过去分词 )；乱糟糟地堆满，把…弄得很乱；（以…） 塞满…

参考例句：

• The room is cluttered up with all kinds of things. 零七八碎的东西放满了一屋子。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The desk is cluttered with books and papers. 桌上乱糟糟地堆满了书报。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

28 penetrating   

adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的

参考例句：

• He had an extraordinarily penetrating gaze. 他的目光有股异乎寻常的洞察力。
• He examined the man with a penetrating gaze. 他以锐利的目光仔细观察了那个人。

29 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

30 interpretations   

n.解释( interpretation的名词复数 )；表演；演绎；理解

参考例句：

• This passage is open to a variety of interpretations. 这篇文章可以有各种不同的解释。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The involved and abstruse passage makes several interpretations possible. 这段艰涩的文字可以作出好几种解释。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

31 spatial   

adj.空间的，占据空间的

参考例句：

• This part of brain judges the spatial relationship between objects.大脑的这部分判断物体间的空间关系。
• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。

32 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。