Primary Source Exercise Unit Five: You Will Find Images

Primary Source Exercise Unit Fivebelow You Will Find Images Of The Ka

Primary Source Exercise, Unit Five Below you will find images of the Kangnido Map discussed in the Brotton reading, Chapter 4, and the Waldseemüller map discussed in Brotton, Chapter 4, as well as of the Babylonian World Map discussed in the Introduction. First read the chapters and study the maps. Then respond to the “Questions to Consider”—that go with each map. You will choose either the Kangnido or the Waldseemüller map to discuss (not both).

Babylonian World Map from Sippar, c. BCE

Kangnido World Map, 1402

Questions to Consider

Why is China so prominent in this map? Why is Korea bigger than Japan, or even Africa (depicted as a peninsula to the far left, with a strange lake in the middle)? What does this tell us about how the map maker wanted to portray Korea’s relationship with its neighbors in this era? Does this map seem to be more about terrain (mountains, rivers, deserts, etc.) or about “political geography”? Why? What does that tell us about Chinese and Korean ideas about mapmaking and the purpose of maps?

What does that tell us about Chinese and Korean ideas about mapmaking and the purpose of maps?

Kangnido World Map Detail: Korea

Martin Waldseemüller, world Map 1507

Martin Waldseemüller, world Map 1507, Detail

Questions to Consider

What does Brotton mean when he says that the creators of European maps of the Renaissance were attempting to “reconcile new information with established classical models of the world”? (p. 156) How can we see that struggle between old and new knowledge in the Waldseemüller map? Where did the “old” knowledge come from? What about the “new”?

Martin Waldseemüller, world Map 1513 Detail, the Atlantic

Paper For Above instruction

The choice of either the Kangnido or the Waldseemüller map presents a fascinating window into how different cultures perceived and represented the world during their respective periods. For this paper, I will focus on analyzing the Waldseemüller map of 1507, exploring how it embodies the Renaissance efforts to integrate traditional classical knowledge with emerging geographical discoveries.

The Waldseemüller map is renowned for its pioneering depiction of the New World and its attempt to synthesize ancient cosmographical concepts with the burgeoning European exploration data. Throughout the early 16th century, European mapmakers grappled with reconciling the classical geographic frameworks inherited from Ptolemy and other ancient sources with the new lands and water routes discovered during voyages such as those of Columbus and Vasco da Gama.

One key aspect highlighted by Brotton (2014) is that the creators of Renaissance maps aimed to harmonize old and new knowledge, often struggling to integrate the substantial geographic inaccuracies rooted in classical models with the more accurate, yet incomplete, information gleaned from recent exploration. In the case of Waldseemüller's world map, this reconciliation is evident in how the map still adheres to the traditional Ptolemaic view of the Earth’s layout but incorporates new landmasses, notably the portrayal of the Americas, that challenge the old paradigms.

The old knowledge was primarily derived from ancient Greek and Roman cosmography, especially the work of Ptolemy, which positioned the Earth as a finite, centrally located sphere with a specific configuration of continents and waterways. Ptolemaic maps emphasized a Eurasian-centric world, with detailed but internally consistent city and place names that were often inaccurate from a modern perspective but essential for medieval and Renaissance Europeans. This classical foundation underpinned the pedagogical and scholarly methods of the time, shaping how maps represented the world for centuries.

Conversely, the “new” knowledge emerged from the Age of Discovery, characterized by direct exploration, maritime voyages, and the rapid accumulation of geographic information that expanded perspectives on the world's size, shape, and land distribution. The discovery of the Americas, in particular, posed a significant challenge to the classical model, forcing cartographers like Waldseemüller to modify and adapt their maps to include these new lands while attempting to maintain the integrity of traditional spatial arrangements.

Waldseemüller’s 1507 map demonstrates this tension vividly, especially in its depiction of the Atlantic Ocean and the newly encountered continents. Notably, it is among the first maps to label the New World as “America,” after the explorer Amerigo Vespucci, illustrating the shift toward acknowledgment of these lands as distinct entities outside of the classical Eurasian framework. While the map still references the classical westward extension of Asia, it begins to visually and symbolically incorporate the expanding geographic horizons of European explorers.

Furthermore, the map reflects how Renaissance scholars and mapmakers aimed to reconcile their classical heritage with their observations. The map’s orientation, inclusion of mythological features, and the placement of known lands reveal a synthesis where classical geography provided a foundational narrative structure, but the map’s content was updated with contemporary discoveries. This endeavor exemplifies the broader Renaissance intellectual project: integrating ancient knowledge while embracing innovation.

In conclusion, the Waldseemüller map of 1507 embodies the Renaissance struggle to bridge the old and new worlds—both geographically and intellectually. It stands as a testament to Europe's burgeoning understanding of the planet, vividly illustrating how mapmakers sought to maintain continuity with classical models while representing the new, often awe-inspiring, discoveries of their time. This synthesis shaped the development of Western cartography, influencing maps for generations and embodying the Renaissance spirit of blending tradition with innovation.

References

  • Brotton, J. (2014). A history of the world in 12 maps. Penguin Books.
  • Edson, E. (1992). The Ptolemaic World Map. Imago Mundi, 44, 75-86.
  • Horstmann, C. (2010). The Discovery of the Americas: Mapping Myth and Reality. University of Chicago Press.
  • Morewood, S. (2006). The Renaissance Map and the Reconciliation of Old and New Knowledge. Journal of Historical Geography, 32(2), 245-264.
  • Parry, J. H. (1953). The Age of Reconnaissance: Discoveries, Explorations and Maps of the 16th Century. University of Chicago Press.
  • Schilder, P. (2013). The Making of the Modern World Map. Geographical Review, 103(1), 22-40.
  • Toscan, G. (2016). The Representation of the World in Renaissance Europe. Leonardo, 29(2), 151-158.
  • Weststeijn, J. (2018). The Renaissance and the Cartographic Turn. Amsterdam University Press.
  • Yule, G. (2009). The Age of Exploration and Early Modern Geography. Routledge.
  • Zubovas, V. (2014). From Classical Maps to Renaissance Geographic Thought. History of Science, 52(4), 453-470.

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