Mapping the Unknown: A Glimpse into 16th and 17th Century Cartography

The allure of the unknown has always captivated humanity, and in the 16th and 17th centuries, this fascination was expressed clearly in cartography. Important mapmakers like Abraham Ortelius, Gerard Mercator, and Jodocus Hondius embarked on ambitious projects to chart a world still largely unknown in detail, with some areas still being completely uncharted.

Imagine a time when vast continents were mere outlines, and entire oceans were dotted with speculative islands and mythical beasts. This was the landscape these early cartographers faced. Their work wasn't simply about documenting existing knowledge; it was about synthesizing fragmented reports from explorers, sailors, and merchants, and then filling in the immense blanks with a blend of educated guesses and sheer imagination.

Ortelius's "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum," published in 1570, is often considered the first true modern atlas. It was a monumental achievement, bringing together maps from various sources into a coherent collection. Yet, even within its pages, one can see the struggle to depict accuracy. His maps of the Arctic, for instance, often depicted a central magnetic pole surrounded by four landmasses, a concept derived from earlier, less accurate theories. Similarly, "Terra Australis Incognita" – the unknown southern land – was a recurring feature, its size and shape shifting with each new conjecture.

Mercator, renowned for his projection that revolutionized navigation, also grappled with the limits of available information. While his projections offered a practical solution for sailors, the actual landmasses he depicted were often speculative. His map of the world, like many of his contemporaries, included fanciful details in the vast, unexplored regions, a testament to the blend of scientific pursuit and artistic license.

Jodocus Hondius, who later acquired Mercator's plates, continued this tradition. His editions often incorporated new discoveries, yet the fundamental challenges remained. Consider the intricate details often found along the edges of these maps – mythical creatures, indigenous peoples depicted through a European lens, and elaborate cartouches. These weren't just decorative elements; they served to engage the viewer, adding narrative and wonder to areas where factual geographic data was scarce.

These maps, far from being perfect representations, offer a fascinating window into a world on the cusp of discovery. They reflect the human desire to impose order on chaos, to visualize the unseen, and to push the boundaries of knowledge. The "unknown" was not a barrier but a canvas for these cartographic pioneers, whose legacy continues to inspire awe and curiosity about how we came to understand the true shape of our planet.

An Early Map of Sumatra

One of the earliest, desirable maps of the island of Sumatra and the southern part of Malaysia is titled´Sumatra ein Grosse Insel so von den alten Geographen Taprobana genennet worden.´.

This map is SebastianMünster´s  revision of the early Ptolemaic map of the same name, which confused Sumatra with the island of Ceylon. It is one of the earliest maps to focus on this region. Shown nearby is today's Singapore, on the tip of the Malay peninsula, and named ´Cingafufa´.

The text to the right quotes Pliny, and below that is a large engraving of an elephant and his mounted handler (oddly dressed in European clothes). 

Sebastian Munster (1489 - 1552) was one of the three most renowned cartographers of the sixteenth century, along with Mercator and Ortelius. Munster's Geographia and Cosmographia Universalis were two of the most widely read and influential books of the period. His editions of Ptolemy's Geographia, published between 1540 and 1552, were illustrated with 48 woodcut maps, the standard 27 Ptolemaic maps supplemented by 21 new maps. These new maps included a separate map of each of the known continents and marked the development of regional cartography in Central Europe. The antique geography was a prelude to Munster's major work, the Cosmographia, which was published in nearly 30 editions in six languages between 1544 and 1578 and then was revised and reissued by Sebastian Petri from 1588 to 1628. The Cosmographia was a geographical as well as historical and ethnographic description of the world. It contained the maps from the Geographia plus additional regional maps and city views with nearly 500 illustrations which made it one of the most popular pictorial encyclopedias of the sixteen century.