Even back then, China was the most populous country. The British Empire had almost a similar population. The third most populous country was the Russian Empire. Despite its high population and potential ability to assemble a large army, China was the object of the claims of the great powers of the time.

The map of the Far East of Eurasia below was created by Tse Tsan-Tai (1872-1939), an Australian Chinese revolutionary active during the late Qing Dynasty. He depicted the western powers encroaching on China at the end of the nineteenth century in symbolic form. The bear representing Russia is intruding from the north. The bulldog head with a lion’s body symbolizing the British Empire is in south China, with its tail around the Shantung peninsula. The Gallic frog is in southeast Asia, with an inscription “Fashoda,” regarding Fashoda Incident opposing Britain and France in Africa. The frog has the Hainan Island in its right hand, about Guangzhouwan, and part of the Sichuan in its left hand. The bald eagle representing the United States of America is approaching the Philippines (the United States had already invaded the Philippines at this time). On the eagle is written, “Blood is thicker than water,” a reference to American Navy Commodore Josiah Tattnall’s saying in 1859. The symbolic Sun behind Japan extends its rays across Korea onto China while Japan fishes for Taiwan. Qing Amban is in Tibet and a Chinese teacher in Mongolia and Xinjiang with a Turco-Mongol man. Some other European nations, following Prussia, are waiting to invade China at the bottom of the map.

Below is a modern version of this map, created by a Hong Kong illustrator nicknamed “Ah To.” It reflects the current political situation in the region.

According to the map, Taiwan is under immediate threat from China, then no one in the region is safe.

Taiwan (bear) is even being carried through Thailand by Myanmar (lizard) and China (panda).

自衛隊-Japan Self-Defense Forces present the fact that Japan is very anxious about the continuous eroding from China in this region.

The United States eagle seems to be grabbing Japan and Taiwan with its wings and the Philippines with its paws, which could represent American protection against China.

What did you see on this map?

The post The situation in the Far East 1902 vs. 2022 appeared first on Vivid Maps.

Nestled among the sun-drenched streets, you’ll spot the early headquarters of companies that are now household names, alongside others that time has quietly forgotten. There’s Apple, a plucky upstart that had just launched the Apple II, its bitten-apple logo already a beacon of innovation. Not far away, a modest building houses Atari, where legions of kids are glued to their joysticks, battling space invaders and gobbling dots.

The map is alive with activity. Vans adorned with various tech logos navigate the streets, while engineers from companies like Hewlett-Packard, Fujitsu, and Siemens are huddled around bulky computers, dreaming up the next big thing. You might even spot the offices of IBM – yes, the tech giant had already established a presence in the Valley by 1982, having opened its San Jose Research Laboratory back in 1952.

Look closely, and you’ll see a rich array of tech pioneers. There’s Verbatim and Dysan, kings of the floppy disk era, ensuring our data stays safe (all 1.44 MB of it!). Quantum and Corvus Systems are pushing the boundaries of data storage and networking, while semiconductor manufacturers like Intersil and Siliconix are laying the groundwork for ever-smaller, ever-more-powerful chips.

The international flavor of the Valley is evident too. Japanese giants NEC and Fujitsu rub shoulders with Germany’s Siemens, all vying for a piece of the silicon pie. And let’s not forget the wildcards like Giltronix Inc and Xennon – their names might not ring a bell today, but in 1982, they were part of the vibrant ecosystem driving the tech revolution forward.

As you pore over the details, imagine the energy in the air. The late-night coding sessions, the breakthrough moments, the dreams of changing the world – it’s all there, hidden in the colorful illustrations and whimsical details. You can almost hear the whirring of disk drives and the clacking of keyboards as the future of technology takes shape.

This isn’t just a map – it’s a time machine. It takes us back to an era when the digital revolution was just beginning, and Silicon Valley was transforming from a sleepy agricultural region to the tech capital of the world. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come, how quickly things can change, and how even the mightiest tech giants started as small offices on a crowded map.

So, dear readers, grab your magnifying glass and join us on this nostalgic journey. How many future tech titans can you spot? How many names make you wonder, “Whatever happened to them?” And who knows – maybe you’ll find inspiration for the next big idea that will shape our digital landscape. Just remember to invite us to your IPO, okay?

The post Silicon Valley, 1982: A Technicolor Time Capsule appeared first on Vivid Maps.