how can you tell that the image below is a political map?

Without actually seeing the image that you are referring to, it is difficult to determine whether it is a political map. However, some characteristics that generally indicate a political map could include:

1. Clearly labeled country borders and boundaries.
2. Distinction between different countries, states, or provinces, often indicated by different colors or symbols.
3. Political features such as capital cities, major cities, and important landmarks.
4. Absence of physical features such as mountains, rivers, or natural landscapes, which are typically found on physical maps.
5. Focus on governmental divisions and administrative areas rather than geographical or topographical features.