History, Nation and performative cartography – The Kingdom of Denmark 1850

Authors

  • Stig Roar Svenningsen National Collections Department, Maps, Prints and Photographs, The Royal Library. http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7949-0740
  • Mette Colding Dahl Det Kongelige Bibliotek, Nationalsamlingsafdelingen Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1, København K, DK-1016 København, Denmark

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5278/ojs.perspektiv.v15i27.1369

Keywords:

Slesvig, Kildekritik, Territorialitet

Abstract

This article discuss the performative character of a nationalistic mapping practice, related to the debate about the duchy of Schleswig as a part of the Danish Kingdom in the 19th century, were cartography was used to visualize and promote a historical myth about Danish supremacy over Schleswig. The article also reveals that this cartographic narrative, even today penetrates into general historical teaching material used in elementary school as well as in history books. This illustrates, that uncritical use of historical maps, might lead to the risk of reproducing erroneous cartographic myths. As such, this article concludes, that precaution should be taken when using historical maps or producing contemporary cartographic visualizations of historical events, due to the performative power of cartography.

Author Biographies

Stig Roar Svenningsen, National Collections Department, Maps, Prints and Photographs, The Royal Library.

Stig Roar Svenningsen, ph.d. i geografi på en afhandling om kortlægningen af det danske landskab. Arbejder som forskningsbibliotekar ved Kort- og billedsamlingen på Det Kongelige Bibliotek.

Mette Colding Dahl, Det Kongelige Bibliotek, Nationalsamlingsafdelingen Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1, København K, DK-1016 København, Denmark

Mette Colding Dahl, Cand.mag. i historie. Arbejder som forskningsbibliotekar ved Kort- og billedsamlingen på Det Kongelige Bibliotek.  

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Published

26-06-2016

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 27 (2016): Performative maps

Section

Peer-reviewed scientific papers

License

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