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Sebastian Munster's 1545 world map, Typus Orbis A Ptol. Descriptus, originally published in Basel in 1540, is an object of enduring historical and cartographic significance. The map draws its inspiration from the 2nd-century geographical writings of Claudius Ptolemy, marking an intersection of classical scholarship and Renaissance cartography.
The late 15th and early 16th centuries witnessed the zenith of Ptolemaic geography in printed maps. As the art of printing unfolded in the 15th century, the teachings of Ptolemy permeated most general cartographic works, influencing the construction and interpretation of geographical space for at least another century. Despite the budding contemporary cartography offering modern depictions of the world, Ptolemy's geocentric approach retained a formidable presence, reflected vividly in Munster's map.
Munster's Typus Orbis A Ptol. Descriptus offers an intriguing blend of the old and the new. It embodies the enduring tradition of the 12 windheads - symbolic representations of the 12 directional winds, a common feature in pre-Columbian maps. Yet, the map also resonates with pre-Columbian beliefs about the world's expanse, attesting to the period's gradual transition from purely mythological landscapes towards a more empirical understanding of geography.
The map is not simply a visual rendition of geographical knowledge, but rather a dynamic instrument of cultural and intellectual dialogue. It stands as a testament to the enduring relevance of Ptolemaic geography during the Renaissance period, representing a collision of two worlds - one stepping out of the medieval mindset and another stepping into the empirical rationality of the modern age. Munster's Typus Orbis A Ptol. Descriptus remains an essential piece for those seeking to understand the evolution of cartography and its deep roots in classical antiquity.
Sebastian Münster (1488-1552) was a cosmographer and professor of Hebrew who taught at Tübingen, Heidelberg, and Basel. He settled in the latter in 1529 and died there, of plague, in 1552. Münster made himself the center of a large network of scholars from whom he obtained geographic descriptions, maps, and directions.
As a young man, Münster joined the Franciscan order, in which he became a priest. He then studied geography at Tübingen, graduating in 1518. He moved to Basel, where he published a Hebrew grammar, one of the first books in Hebrew published in Germany. In 1521 Münster moved again, to Heidelberg, where he continued to publish Hebrew texts and the first German-produced books in Aramaic. After converting to Protestantism in 1529, he took over the chair of Hebrew at Basel, where he published his main Hebrew work, a two-volume Old Testament with a Latin translation.
Münster published his first known map, a map of Germany, in 1525. Three years later, he released a treatise on sundials. In 1540, he published Geographia universalis vetus et nova, an updated edition of Ptolemy’s Geographia. In addition to the Ptolemaic maps, Münster added 21 modern maps. One of Münster’s innovations was to include one map for each continent, a concept that would influence Ortelius and other early atlas makers. The Geographia was reprinted in 1542, 1545, and 1552.
He is best known for his Cosmographia universalis, first published in 1544 and released in at least 35 editions by 1628. It was the first German-language description of the world and contained 471 woodcuts and 26 maps over six volumes. Many of the maps were taken from the Geographia and modified over time. The Cosmographia was widely used in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The text, woodcuts, and maps all influenced geographical thought for generations.
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