Why Ancient Mapmakers Were Scared of Blank Spaces
Published 21 Nov 2017, 08:50 GMT, Updated 22 Nov 2017, 16:14 GMT
Sea monsters (circled) abound on this 1558 world map by Caspar Vopel.
Courtesy of Houghton Library, Harvard UniversityShips and large boxes of text also help fill in the Indian Ocean on Vopel’s map.
Courtesy of Houghton Library, Harvard UniversityIn contrast, the only real geographical information in the Indian Ocean on Vopel’s map are three groups of islands (but only the ones at the top actually exist).
Courtesy of Houghton Library, Harvard UniversityCompass roses, sailing ships, and cartouches are among the decorative elements on Pieter van den Keere’s 1611 map.
Courtesy of Sutro Library, California State LibraryThe cartouche covering most of North America is decorated with plants, animals, and famous explorers.
Courtesy of Sutro Library, California State LibraryGiovanni Battista Cavallini’s 1640 map of the Mediterranean sea includes 15 cities (circled in red), most of which don't represent real cities.
Photograph by Courtesy of Geography and Map Division, Library of CongressThe map also includes 15 compass roses, added purely as decoration.
Photograph by Courtesy of Geography and Map Division, Library of CongressCavallini also included scale bars, mountain ranges, and a couple palm trees—together these decorations take up most of the land area on the map.
Photograph by Courtesy of Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress