Fra Mauro's Mappa Mundi
In this header you see the Mappa Mundi made by Fra Mauro. At first the question raises, why is this map orientated south? This question and others wil be discussed later on. This map is very unique, in the first place by its size, 223 centimeters in length and width. Secondly this map is famous because of all the things Mauro has written on it. 3000 inscriptions, with 115,000 characters. Hundreds of drawings and Mauro mentions 29 others writers, explorers and so on.
Mauro's Network.
Mauro was a monk in a monastry located in San Michele. This was close to Venice. I guess this is the reason why Mauro was able to get in contact with the Medici family and the Portugese court. The king of Portugal: Afons the fifth sent somebody to Venice to order a world map.
Cartographic science from Portugal.
When the representative of Afons arrived in San Michele he brought al kinds of marine charts with him. Through this exchange of information we can have a closer look to the interests of Portugal. The Portugese king needed a detailed map of the world for political reasons. At the first place to extend his power.
Use of other sources
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Influence of great thinkers on Mauro's Mappa Mundi
In the Mappa Mundi there are some debates on theological topics. For example on the number of heavens on earth. Even back then Mauro made a Historiographical summary of the variety of opinions on this matter.
Further reading:
Falchetta. Fra Mauro’s World Map. Turnhout: Brepols, 2006. Cattaneo. Fra Mauro’s Mappa Mundi and Fifteenth-Century Venice. Turnhout: Brepols, 2011. KJMK |
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