Another common error in hand-drawn maps is the tendencry to mack Europe too large and africa too small. People from all pars of the world tend to draw the world this way, including the Aficans! There are several factors that may be involved here. One factor may be the influence of old maps made with the "Mercator projection." This technique for drawing maps makes areas nearer the north pole, including europe, seem extra large. Other areas in the middle, such as Africa, seem smaller than in reality. However, the Mercator maps also enlarge Greenland and Canada, and people usually do not make mistakes about their size. Thus, a better explanation must lie in people's ideas about the relative importance of the continents. The size of Europe tends to be exaggeraed because of its importance ib peolpe's minds. Similarly, Africa becomes smaller because people feel it is unimportant.