Marocco, from "Court Game of Geography" 1838 - 1855

William and Henry Rock created this lithograph of Morocco as part of their "Court Game of Geography" around the mid-19th century. It's a fascinating example of how cartography could be used for both education and entertainment, but also how it reflected particular political perspectives. Notice how Morocco is presented in relation to Europe, literally just across the Strait of Gibraltar. The presence of clovers, seemingly arbitrarily placed, hints at the game-like nature of the print. The "Court Game of Geography" was likely intended for a domestic setting, perhaps for middle-class families to learn about the world. However, the very act of mapping and categorizing regions like Morocco also speaks to European interests in exploration and colonization. Historians can unpack these layers of meaning by looking at atlases, travel narratives, and even board games from the period. These sources help reveal the complex relationship between knowledge, power, and representation in the 19th century. Ultimately, this print underscores how even seemingly innocent games can be embedded with cultural and political assumptions.