Why do our maps have the north at the top and the south at the bottom? What happened in other eras? Who, when, how, and why imposed this specific orientation of maps? What impact did this have on the consciousness, attitude, and actions of people? Did it influence the fate of nations? And more specifically, is the orientation of world maps responsible for the much-discussed dominance of the developed North over the underdeveloped South today? Is the hunger that plagues the children of the African or American South related to the maps hanging on the walls of their schools? Is it related to the specific way they hang?