Lab 1a

This map was found through Google search on selfinterestandsympathy.files.wordpress.com. This is a map of world legal systems: Civil, common, customary, and religious law. I find this map very interesting in its way of conveying global diversity through its use of colors. It is through this map that one is able to really understand how complex Africa is when it comes to legal systems. Out of all of the continents, Africa has the most variety in legal systems: civil, common, and religious. I really like how detailed the map is and how it accurately denotes Louisiana as the only state in the United States with both a civil and common law (shown in brown). Differences continue to exist between Louisianan civil law (from French, German, and Spanish influence-blue) and the common law (from English influence present in all other states-red) found in the other states.



This map was found on strangemaps.files.wordpress.com under Religionism and Religiosity. This map represents the United States as a highly religious country by highlighting the 8 leading Christian dominations such as Baptist, Lutheran, Mormons, Catholics, Mennonites, and Christian, as well as others such as Anglican and Adventist. What is very interesting about this map is that it demonstrates the important link between region and religion. The map goes on to show how the 8 leading Christian dominations represent a plurality of the relevant counties' population. This further reinforces the idea that there are quite a few contiguous religious blocks in the United States. For example, there is a great concentration of Baptists in the eastern/southern states, but as we move further west, we find less and less Baptists and a larger concentration of Latter-Day Saints. The one religious group that seems to dominant the United States at a somewhat constant rate is Catholic.


This map was found on garyhaq.files.wordpress.com under an article titled "Enoughism--The Route to Happiness?". Under the title "A Global Projection of Subject Well-being," this map represents how different countries all around the world vary distinctly in their level of happiness depending on different aspects of lifestyle. The one continent that has a mostly constant high level of happiness is North America. It is interesting how other continents, such as Europe, are smaller than North America, yet vary in their levels of happiness: i.e. Portugal is represented as slightly less happy than Spain that is right next to it. France is not as "happy" as its bordering countries, Germany and Spain. Out of all the continents, Africa and Asia seem to be the most varying in happiness. Another aspect that I find interesting is that supposedly wealthy countries such as North America and Australia are represented as the "happiest", despite the fact that studies have shown that more choice and more things do not necessarily bring more happiness. In that case, countries like France and Italy who went through a lot during World War I and II should be considered happier than they are represented in this map since they value and appreciate food and goods much more than citizens in North America and Australia do. One critical point I will have to make about this map: despite all of the economic and governmental problems its citizens are constantly faced with, Mexico is represented as happier than France. France should be considered happier since its citizens face rather minor problems when compared to those in Mexico. Thus, in my opinion, the fact that French citizens are not represented as much better off than Mexican citizens renders this map inaccurate.