The Mapmakers' Quest : Depicting New Worlds in Renaissance Europe

In 1400 Europe was behind large parts of the world in its understanding of the use of maps. For instance, the people gf China and of Japan were considerably more advanced in this respect. And yet, by 1600 the Europeans had come to use maps for a huge variety of tasks, and were far ahead of the rest of the world in their appreciation of the power and use of cartography. The Mapmakers'Quest seeks to understand this development - not only to tease out the strands of thought and practice which led to the use of maps, but also to assess the ways in which such use affected European societies and economies. Taking as a starting point the question of why there were so few maps in Europe in 1400 and so many by 1650, the book explores the reasons for this and its implications for European history. It examines, inter al, how mapping and military technology advanced in tandem, how modern states'territories were mapped and borders drawn up, the role of maps in shaping the urban environment, and cartography's links to the new sciences. In 1400 Europe lagged far behind much of the world in its understanding of the use of maps. And yet, by 1600 the Europeans had come to use maps for a huge variety of tasks, and were far ahead of the rest of the world in their appreciation of the power and use of cartography. The Mapmakers' Quest illuminates the forces behind this development--not only to tease out the strands of thought and practice which led to the use of maps, but also to assess the ways in which such use affected European societies and economies. David Buisseret is one of the most eminent historians of cartography, and in this striking volume he offers a fresh and compelling approach to the cultural history of early modern Europe, revealing how the development of maps shaped and was shaped by larger movements. Taking as a starting point the question of why there were so few maps in Europe in 1400 and so many by 1650, the book explores the reasons for this and its implications for European history. It examines how mapping and military technology advanced in tandem, how modern states' territories were mapped and borders drawn up, the role of maps in shaping the urban environment, and cartography's links to the new sciences. "In 1400 Europe was almost entirely without maps, but by 1650 had witnessed an explosion in cartography that was to change the course of European history. This book shows how Europe managed to overtake the pre-eminent countries in early map-making, such as China and Japan, to become the world leader in the quest for accurate maps." "David Buisseret explores these advances and the major implications that maps had for Europe, from the growth of cities to the development of the countryside; overseas exploration to the control of armies; and from politics to war. The excitement about the possibilities of map-making not only engaged the attention of famous artists and architects such as Albrecht Durer, Leonardo da Vinci, and Christopher Wren, but also launched the careers of cartographers like Gerard Mercator, Abraham Ortelius, and Christopher Saxton. David Buisseret reveals the influence of classical antiquity, new styles in painting, the European monarchs, and emerging economic forces, arguing that these elements came together to forge an astonishingly powerful new type of imagery, whose influence can still be felt today."--BOOK JACKET