Not only since the initiation of cartography-history medieval maps and those of the early modern times impressed but also bothered modern viewers. It is evident that in any map the world is presented as flat. This fact resulted in the assumption, medieval human beeings considered the world as a flat disc. It is remarkable that there seems to be a development of mapping, changing through differing concepts and differing utilization of maps in various fields. This change of different natures of depictions of the world was over years used by generations of scientists to postulate a successive development from somehow religious maps (like the Hereford-map, the Ebstorf-map and other medieval T-O-maps) to those scientific maps like the Waldseemüller-map or other later maps. It is promising to recontextualise the T-O-Maps and understand them as a kind of “geography of meaning”. Following this approach means taking a closer look at the maps and trying to find out what kind of world is depicted there, what exactly is represented and, in a matter of space perception as this essays questioning demands, what spaces are depicted and how they are delimited. Upon this closer examination a methodological closer consideration of the use of the maps and its rules and conditions is indispensable. Maybe a differentiation between depicted world models, as the considered period covers howbeit the birth of measuring geography, results in a distinction of differing depicted spaces. This way possibly the edge-phenomena variations like monsters, cosmological signs and other symbols taken out of a rich knowledge-reservoir you may find in medieval as well as in early modern mapping, can maybe enlight the idea of the space that they are delimiting. In case of imposing restrictions on the topic, the following thoughts are based on single case studies of maps with differing edge-depicting practice between 1200 and 1760.
Table of contents
1 Introduction
2. Medieval Mappae Mundi – Ebstorf and Hereford
2.1. Simultaneity of the Non-Simultaneous
2.2. Facing the Unknown – Monster-Galleries
3. Early Modern Time Cartography
3.1. The Map that Named America
3.2 Two Maps of a Very Later Period
4. Conclusions and Prospects
Objectives and Topics
The main objective of this study is to examine how spaces are depicted, delimited, and perceived in historical cartography, moving from medieval Mappae Mundi to early modern scientific maps. It questions whether the presence of symbolic elements, such as monsters or allegorical figures at the map's edges, functions as a consistent method of boundary-marking across different historical periods and cartographic traditions.
- Analysis of spatial perception in medieval and early modern cartography.
- Examination of symbolic border-delimitation and its relation to scientific knowledge.
- Re-contextualization of medieval T-O maps as "geographies of meaning."
- Comparative study of monstrous representations and continent allegories in maps.
- Critique of viewing cartographic history as a linear, purely scientific progression.
Excerpt from the book
2.2. Facing the Unknown – Monster-Galleries
As shown in framing, illustrating and inscripting modes so far, factuality of the shown or depicted map is much more than a measured world. Thus their pictorial reservoir contains lots of surprising items. The last sort I want to treat with, are located on the right border of either the Ebstorf- and Hereford-map. There is a whole gallery of deformed bodies (compare Illustration 3), monsters or mirabilia, preoccupying scientists more recent whereas older researches identified them just as signs of medieval predilection for the unusual or grotesque. On the Ebstorf-Map it is a special feature though the World is an implied christ’s body, the monsters are located on his left, sinister side, referring to the evil implications of left-handeness like Arnold and Walcott extrapolated.14 The focus is mainly on a dissimilarity of the physis of the creatures as evident in the inscriptions of the Ebstorf-map:
Cynocefali canina habent capita et ora prominentia.
Gens sine naribus equali totius oris planitie deformem habet vultum.
Or the reason for their joining in the gallery bases on in their different behaviour :
Sunt Trogotite, quorum sunt tecta caverne.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the research context, challenging the traditional view of a linear transition from religious medieval maps to scientific early modern maps.
2. Medieval Mappae Mundi – Ebstorf and Hereford: The chapter analyzes medieval mapping techniques, emphasizing the use of the Ebstorf and Hereford maps as representations of a "geography of meaning" rather than purely geographic space.
2.1. Simultaneity of the Non-Simultaneous: This section explores how medieval maps integrate complex salvation history and temporal dimensions within a single, circular, and synchronous image program.
2.2. Facing the Unknown – Monster-Galleries: This section investigates the presence of monstrous races at the edges of medieval maps, interpreting them as symbolic representations of the strange and the far away.
3. Early Modern Time Cartography: This chapter contrasts medieval symbolic spatial limitation with early modern cartography, focusing on maps that reflect new explorations and scientific measurement.
3.1. The Map that Named America: This section examines the Waldseemüller-map, discussing its blend of Ptolomaic tradition, latest explorations, and persistent symbolic elements like wind personifications and monsters.
3.2 Two Maps of a Very Later Period: This section reviews 18th-century maps, analyzing how allegorical continent representations and complex frames continue to serve as symbolic border-limiters within a scientific context.
4. Conclusions and Prospects: The final chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing that while mapmaking contexts change, the function of symbolic delimiters at the map's edges remains a constant, necessary tool for representing the unknown.
Keywords
Cartography, Medieval Mappae Mundi, Ebstorf map, Hereford map, Waldseemüller map, T-O maps, symbolic space, monsters, continent allegory, spatial perception, early modern cartography, Orbis terrarum, imago mundi, salvation history, map symbolism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this work?
The work examines how world maps from the Middle Ages to the early modern period depict and delimit space, specifically focusing on the persistent use of symbolic elements to define the edges of the known world.
What are the central thematic areas?
The central themes include the evolution of cartographic practices, the interplay between religious and scientific worldviews, the symbolism of monsters, and the usage of allegorical figures to represent continents.
What is the primary goal of this research?
The goal is to determine if symbolic border-delimitation remains a consistent methodological function in cartography, even as mapping techniques evolved from religious interpretations to scientifically measured projections.
Which scientific methodology is used?
The author employs a comparative, analytical approach, examining specific historical artifacts (maps) and interpreting their graphic components—such as text, layout, and iconography—as distinct, functional expressions of worldviews.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body investigates medieval T-O maps (Ebstorf and Hereford), the scientific shift in early modern maps (Waldseemüller), and 18th-century decorative map conventions, analyzing them through the lens of spatial limitation and symbolic representation.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms like cartography, symbolic space, Mappae Mundi, monster-galleries, spatial delimitation, and the historiography of geography.
How does the author define the "monster-galleries"?
The author argues that these galleries are not merely decorative but serve a symbolic function, helping to categorize "the unknown" by placing exotic and deformed beings on the periphery of the map.
Why is the "Waldseemüller-map" considered significant in this study?
It acts as a pivotal example that demonstrates a transition toward scientific measurement (longitude/latitude) while simultaneously retaining traditional, non-scientific symbolic practices, such as the inclusion of monstrous races and wind personifications.
- Quote paper
- Bob Göhler (Author), 2008, Symbolic space - constitution on the edge, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/117803
