I don't think it's unreasonable to expect Americans to be able to find European countries on a map. Nobody is asking for English counties. US states can hardly be equated with countries. And while we're here, how many of you can correctly label a map of African countries? Or SE Asia?
I would contend that union of American states and the union of European states are very comprable. There are some differences overall, but in broad strokes, each is a union with shared currency, and agreement to follow certain unifying laws and decisions by a collective authority. Each allows free travel of citizens between independent authorities in the union while each independent authority maintains primary sovereignty over its own citizens.
US states are often as large or larger than European countries and many compete, some even beat, entire countries in the global economy. Each state has unique culture, dialects, accents, even language, and laws and custom can vary greatly between states within the bounds of the authority of blanket laws set by the larger union.
While it is slightly more complicated- the US was literally, from start to finish of the US Civil war, a union- a union vs. A confederacy.
So on the subject of states or countries- geographically US states tend to each occupy a major area of land mass, equivalent in many cases to countries- especially European ones. Culturally and economically, if we take the bent that one need only memorize “important” places- in the global economy and overall world events US states often are important- although in fairness Texas or California or New York probably have a larger direct impact on world affairs on most any given day then Rhode Island- no offense Rhode Island, you are important in deciding elections and other ways, but you aren’t necessarily a place that most citizens of the world need pay concern to unless it is to visit and enjoy your rich culture and industry.
But to your point on Africa- this is true in my eyes. Many Europeans get upset Americans seem “self absorbed” and don’t bother to learn about their counties. Of course a lot of this is ego, the geographical equivalent of “do you know who I am?!” And while there are very rich and famous YouTube stars and billionaires most people would recognize in line at a market. Often if someone doesn’t l ow who you are and you feel you deserve recognition- people get bruised egos. But this of course ignores the hypocrisy of calling people out for not knowing about your culture or geography because they are too self important… when you don’t know the culture or geography of places with rich history and critical geo political, economic, and cultural roles in the modern world and history- like Africa. Of which an alarm number of people have little to no concept of it’s location or relationship to other regions they may be aware of and more familiar with.
On the whole I would say Europeans are probably better at African and world geography than Americans in general. That’s just my gut and perception from life experience. That said- Europeans also had a pretty long and intense history of pillaging and enslaving most of the world, and up into the 20th century- into the life times of people still on earth- many places that are far and otherwise removed from Europe were willing or not, part of “European geography.” So it would make more sense that a European would know how to find a place that their governments consider in some part “their lands..” It isn’t like Mexicans forgot where Texas was just because it was stolen from them.
Of course to the “average American” these places far away don’t mean a whole lot in daily life and there isn’t a huge need for most Americans to know where Azerbaijan or Ireland or wherever is. I’m decent with geography. Many I know are, and personally I think in general these things are good to know and are part of an understanding of world events necessary for those who are politically active in making decisions like voting or who want to have opinions or such on various matters in this global economy and world- but…
Well- here is a simple test. Where is the lower handle ejection on an F4 fighter? Where are the face curtain handles? What is the procedure for each? What about the F22- where is the face curtain… ahhhh. Trick question. But, to the point- of you know where they are you are either a hobbyist who learned for interests sake or someone who needs or might need to know what I am saying. In the industry or profession to where you are exposed to such information. If you don’t know what I am asking, where they are, what they are; you probably don’t need to know, unless you find yourself in a situation where you need to exit an old fighter very quickly. So the baker or plumber, the store clerk, the office manager- when will they need to know where Ohio is or Malaysia or Greece if they don’t already know? How often will they need to know those things? Generally if you need to know something often enough, you know it. Because it is used often enough. Other things that you only need once or rarely
We tend to look up, figure out, whatever for that one use and then forget. I mean really- how many people are on Facebook? If you met someone for the first time and they got upset that you didn’t know they were John Doe and had a wife and two kids and lived in fake stein and liked polo because it’s totally out there, public info you didn’t bother to memorize, and they have 100,000 or 1 million friends so it isn’t like they are just anybody here…. How ignorant of you to not know John Doe and memorize details about him.
What we know in part shows how we live. Some people will never leave their home towns or never get far beyond them. Many people will never leave their country- most of the world population in fact.
Many people don’t do business with foreign interests directly or even have friends across borders. Plenty of people can’t fish or hunt. Plenty can’t use spreadsheets or SQL or technologies that underpin the lives and commerce of much of the developed world. There are people who don’t have driving licenses and people who don’t have aircraft knowledge or licensing. People who can’t repair their own car and people who don’t know how to get a truck unstuck from sand or mud. Who is in charge of Ethiopia? Who os the highest authority in Guam? What is Eid Al fitr? What is Ram navami? What is Groundhog Day or Boxing Day or…
There are a lot of things to know in the world. No human knows them all. We tend to know things that we need and use in life and things we are exposed to. Ignorance is not a dirty word or an insult. We are all ignorant. Willful ignorance is a dirty thing, and there are things that basic functional humans or at least adults should know. Personally I try not to judge people on their ignorance of one thing as they may be very well versed in another. They may have highly specialized knowledge or come from a place and lifestyle that doesn’t need or isn’t really conducive to certain knowledge.
US states are often as large or larger than European countries and many compete, some even beat, entire countries in the global economy. Each state has unique culture, dialects, accents, even language, and laws and custom can vary greatly between states within the bounds of the authority of blanket laws set by the larger union.
While it is slightly more complicated- the US was literally, from start to finish of the US Civil war, a union- a union vs. A confederacy.
Many people don’t do business with foreign interests directly or even have friends across borders. Plenty of people can’t fish or hunt. Plenty can’t use spreadsheets or SQL or technologies that underpin the lives and commerce of much of the developed world. There are people who don’t have driving licenses and people who don’t have aircraft knowledge or licensing. People who can’t repair their own car and people who don’t know how to get a truck unstuck from sand or mud. Who is in charge of Ethiopia? Who os the highest authority in Guam? What is Eid Al fitr? What is Ram navami? What is Groundhog Day or Boxing Day or…