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MEDIEVAL “MAPPING” OF THE WORLD IN TEXT AND IMAGE. TWO WAYS OF REPRESENTING ONE VISION

MEDIEVAL “MAPPING” OF THE WORLD IN TEXT AND IMAGE. TWO WAYS OF REPRESENTING ONE VISION

GOSMAN, MARTIN

Forum for Modern Language Studies, Vol.25:4 (1989)

Abstract

When discussing the results of medieval cartography, we are obliged to conclude that it is difficult to determine the limits of that period. Before 1200 the cartographic production is rather static. The tradition of Apocalypse illustrations, represented especially by Beatus of Iiebana, stylised so-called T-in-0 maps and some zonal maps determine the panorama. After 1500 we see important changes: Europe, Africa and Asia are no longer indetermined silhouettes, but show their exact forms. Empiricism, which in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries had acquired its civilrights,now begins to establish its domination and its progress realises itself at the expense of cosmological and legendary visions.

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