The map and the idea of nation (wk 2a)

In 1819 Colombia had 2.500.000km2 of territory, now it has 1.141.748km2, it lost 54% (see picture)
The territory of Colombia has always been different, some times bigger and sometimes smaller; it depends on the frontiers with the other countries. A map shows the space that corresponds to each nation, and it is a very important thing, because it tells how much land a country has, and in most cases, land means power.



“Si los mapas son proyectos políticos y recursos ideológicos de una comunidad, es evidente que el tímido interés que se mostró los territorios periféricos contribuyo a crear un Estado sin gobernabilidad en los lugares más alejados del centro” Colombia imagines de su diversidad (1492 a hoy, pg. 15). This book quoted says that Colombia is a state without rulers, and a disorganized country. The book states that the Colombian people didn’t help the country to progress, and that some of them even betrayed the country, “Imposible establecer autoridad colombiana en el territorio porque la empresa Arana apoyada gobierno Perú, impídeselo.” Colombia imagines de su diversidad (1492 a hoy, pg 16).
So this author proposes that even though Colombia was a great and big country, with the passing of time, it turned into a small country and without rulers that control it.
If you think for a moment. What do you think is important to learn from this? How can a country be able to give land without any benefit? I think these two questions give us a pretty good idea of why Colombia is like it is.