Designed to introduce students to pre-Colombian view of the world and illustrate how the conception of land and earth itself changed after Columbus. We begin our American Literature journey here.

1. Pre and Post1492

2. The Hereford Map
Circa 13th Century
• Uses pictures because
most people could not
read.

3. • Not used for
navigation, but for
contemplating the
wonders of the
world.
• Travelers,
therefore, did not
use this as a
guide.

4. Ptolemaei Orbis
150 AD
• Ptolemy of Alexandria summed up all the knowledge about the ancient world up until his day
• First use of longitude and latitude

5. The Peutinger Table—Western Part
500-1000 AD
• A traveler’s map used for navigation
• Based upon successful pilgrimages rather than cartographic principles
• If the map could be used successfully, it was not updated (some were used for 500 years or more)
• Constantly changing political boundaries frustrated the drawing of a more accurate map of Europe
• http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14291/14291-h/14291-h.htm

6. Giacomo Gastaldi, 1548, Venice, 5.31” X 6.88”

7. Ruscelli, 1564, Venice, 10” X 7”

8. Gerard Mercator, 1578/1695 or later, Amsterdam, 18.7” x 13.5”