Why is the north pole not the south pole?

Question

I mean who's to say whether or not it's up or down. Picture the Earth from outer space... how come we can't view it upside down. It'd be the same right? Like flipping the Universe upside down, it would still be the same... or do humans just feel the need to give everything a direction?

Answer 1

You are very observant and also correct.

You will also be interested to know that the earth has magnetic poles and that every so often these polarities reverse, we are due for this to happen soon, ie universe time, and then everything will need to be rethought and a new direction plotted.

Answer 2

Up here in the Southern Hemisphere, I fully agree. If the planet, solar system, and galaxy are shown upside-down from the normal orientation, then everything's turning clockwise. Doesn't that make more sense?

Answer 3

Because maps came about in Europe, and Europe is in the Northern hemisphere. When they began to explore out to Africa, India and the Americas, they naturally put Europe towards the top of the map.

The earliest known European maps put Jerusalem at the center, with everything else crowded around the edges. This made charting the oceans somewhat difficult, so eventually things swung around to favour a northern view.

From a space perspective, it makes no difference at all.  

Answer 4

We've been defining North as "up" since long before we knew the Earth was round, because that's the way a compass will point, and that's the most important direction in terms of climate.  Also, the vast majority of people live in the northern hemisphere, and I guess people just like to feel like they're on top.