My Vintage Globes

As a small child I had an obsession with geography and history beginning with a Christmas gift from my father, a topographical globe. I still have that obsession as well as that globe.

The Global Community

in 1909

the copyright of this globe reads 1909

Politics & Society

United States: The NAACP was founded, William Howard Taft became President, the first federal narcotics law passed, and the 16th Amendment (income tax) was passed.

Europe: The Bosnian Crisis simmered as Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia; France and Germany agreed on Morocco; and the Young Turk movement gained strength in the Ottoman Empire, leading to the deposition of Sultan Abd al-Hamid II.

Asia: Japan began its 36-year occupation of Korea,

Science & Technology

Aviation: The Wright Brothers delivered the first military plane to the U.S. Army, and the first commercial airplane was sold.

Automobiles: Henry Ford introduced the affordable Model T car.

Medicine: Karl Landsteiner isolated the polio virus, and the first dedicated school of nursing opened at the University of Minnesota.

Exploration & Disasters

Polar Exploration: Robert Peary claimed to reach the North Pole.

Tragedies: The Cherry Mine disaster in Illinois killed 259 miners, and the Adana Massacre in Turkey killed thousands of Armenians.

Culture & Finance

Art: Italian writer Filippo Tommaso Marinetti published the Manifesto of Futurism.

Finance: Construction began on the RMS Titanic.

Alaska, Philipines, Guam, and Hawaii were territories of the United States at this time. Cuba was a U.S protectorate since 1902.

Guiana was divided into British, Dutch,

and French governance. France still governs

as of 2026.

zoomed from above

Abyssinia is the ancient name for Ethiopia since 1270 and one of the few independent nations in Africa at this time. The Kingdom of Italy governed most of Somali.

Pre - World War I Europe

Poland was integral part of the Russian Empire since 1772. Poland would gain independence in 1918 after the World War. Finland gained its independence from the Russian Empire in 1918 after a 99 year govenance. Austria-Hungary Empire was a dual monachy that survived from 1867-1918. The Russian Empire cease to exist on February of 1917.

zoomed further from above

The Ottoman Empire ruled over the Anatolia Turkey, and the Arabian Peninsula and all lands in between.

zoomed further from above

The British Empire ruled over the Indian subcontinent from 1858 until 1947 (in pink). The Third Republic of France governed Indo-China offically known as the Indochinese Union since 1887. Thailand was called Siam at this time. In 1909 China, under the waning Qing Dynasty, saw significant political shifts with the first indirect elections for provincial assemblies and an advisory council, marking steps towards constitutionalism.

Below is the Commonwealth of Australia with

King Edward VII of Great Britian as head of state. Papua New Guinea was governed by Australia since 1906.

The white lines highlights oceanic jet streams

The Global Community

1932-1945

In 1935 Persia changed its name to Iran and in 1939 Siam changed its name to Thailand. Manchokou was a puppet state of the Japanese Empire from 1932-45. This global map mentions the names Persia and Siam. I bought this globe for the purpose of finding the countries of Persia and Siam together in the same global map. Yes, I know, I am a geek.

The British Empire ruled over much of eastern & southeastern Africa while the The Third Republic of France ruled over much of northwestern Africa. British, French, Portuguese, and Dutch colonies were peppered thoughout the globe.

The Great Depression of 1929 still influenced world ecomonies thoughout this period causing millions of jobs lost, trade disruptions, and social unrest.

The British Empire governed present day India, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka as one colony

from 1858 to 1947. The French controlled present day Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia - referred to as IndoChina.

zoomed from above

Manchukuo was a puppet state controlled by the Empire of Japan from 1932 - 1945.

Chosen (N & S Korea) was a Japanese colony since 1905 with an annexation in 1910.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo was a colony of the Kingdom of Belgium from 1908-1960. Most of the governance was controlled directly by the King of Belgium during its history.

The Global Community

1936-1939

The global community between 1936 to 1939 in the USA was still at peace and nuetral in the wars that raged in Africa, China, and Europe. I purchased this global map with potential world war in mind.

As mentioned in my second globe segment the British Empire ruled over much of eastern & southeastern Africa while the The Third Republic of France ruled over much of northwestern Africa. British, French, Portuguese, and Dutch colonies were peppered thoughout the globe particularly in Africa and Asia.

As mentioned in the second globe segment the Great Depression of 1929 still influenced world ecomonies thoughout this period causing millions of jobs lost, trade disruptions, and social unrest. Now, war in many areas of the globe entered the mix.

zoomed from above

The Kingdom of Italy governed Italian East Africa from 1936-1941 which included Ethopia and Somalia. In World War II British forces captured this area ending Italian goverance in this part of the world.

zoomed from above

Nazi Germany annexed Austria and western Czechoslovakia by 1938. Slovakia became independent and an ally of Germany during the war as well as Hungary, Romania, & Bulgaria. Yugoslavia was intially allied but changed their allegiance causing a German invasion.

The British Empire governed the Indian subcontinent -India, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka as one colony from 1858 to 1947. The French controlled present day Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia - once called IndoChina. The Netherlands governed the vastness of Indonesia islands called, at this time, Dutch East Indies. Siam changed its name to Thailand in 1939. The Commonwealth of the Phillipines was administered by the United States from 1898-1946.

Manchoukuo (northeastern China) and Chosen (Koreas) were a protectorates of the Empire of Japan.

zoomed from above

The Hawaii Chain was a territory of the United States

Antarctica

Little America located off the Ross Sea

The Global Community

War Years

(1941)

zoomed from above

Central America and the Caribbean

South America

Most of northwest Africa (green) was

governed by France

zoomed from above

The British protectorate of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan existed from 1936-1951. Ethiopia was still free and independent from facist Italy so this global map should be 1936-ish. The map below highlights British governed colonies in pink and Portuguese colonies in purple. The Union of South Africa was a self-governing dominion of the British Empire.

1941 Europe

Hungary's geography is the key to this date in time

Germany annexed Austria and western Czechoslovika in 1938 until the Russian offense of 1945. Germany also annex western Czechoslovakia in 1936 leaving Slovakia as an independent nation that allied with Nazi Germany until the end of the war.

zoomed from above

British Empire still ruled

the Indian sub-continent (pink)

zoomed from above

The Dominion of Australia was established by this

time. The continent and country name comes from the Latin word australis meaning "southern" derived from the ancient concept of Terra Australis Incognita meaning "unknown southern land".

The Global Community

1945-1948

(key country idenification-Korea)

The end of the World War gave the global community and monent of peace before the Soviet Union and United States established the Cold vs Hot War at this time. The words 'iron curtain' would be used. Red China (communist) would be used to described as The People's Republic of China and the Republic of China would be based on the island of Formosa by 1949.

Dominion of Canada refers to the the 'unity of several provinces' in 1867 until 1951 when the word 'dominion' would no longer used by 1982. Canada would be independent from Great Britian that year but still part of the Commonwealth of Great Britian.

European powers still governed most of Africa until 1960 when a number of former colonies declared independence that year.

Post World War II Europe view until 1991 when the Baltic States declared independence former Soviet Union or Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. That year the Soviet Union ceased to exist.

Dutch East Indies now Indoesnia once governed by Netherlands gained independence in 1945 but not offically until 1949. France would still govern Indo-China until 1954. 'British India' colonization ended by 1947 creating four new nations.

Post World War II Japan view

Korean formerly called Chosen was independent from Japan. The Korean Pennisula would be divided in 1948 with the establishment of Democatic Peoples Republic of Korea (North) and Republic of Korea (South).