What is a Map? Crash Course Geography #2

From navigating a cross-country road trip (or just finding the nearest coffee shop), to analyzing election results (or the latest meme on K-pop group popularity), maps play a huge role in how we interpret the world! Today, we’re going to talk about the differences between reference maps and thematic maps, take a closer look at how projections play a part in how we perceive maps, and discuss the role of the cartographer (or map maker) in all of this. Maps are incredibly powerful tools and play a crucial role in how we understand the world, but they are also made by people, so it is our job to think critically about how these stories are being presented to us. Watch our videos and review your learning with the Crash Course App! Download here for Apple Devices: Download here for Android Devices: Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at Thanks to the following patrons for their generous monthly