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| Cartography, Geography and the 1492 Voyage of Christopher Columbus |
Behaim Globe c. 1492/Cartography , Geography and the Voyage of 1492
![Columbus planned to find the East by sailing West. His idea was not new. As a cartographer and bookseller in Portugal, Columbus had access to ancient works as well as contemporary maps and theories of the day. He relied on the maps and geographical theories by Ptolemy first published in the 2nd century A.D. to calculate [incorrectly] the distance to Asia. Marco Polo’s written accounts of his travels in the East in the 13th century provided details of the types of riches to be found. Contemporary maps and geographical theories by Pierre d’Ailly (1410), Toscanelli (1471) and the world globe produced by Martin Behaim (1492) suggested a western sea route to reach the landmass – and riches - of the East.
Ptolemy [c. 85 - c.165 A.D.]
Claudius Ptolemaeus [or Ptolemy] was a Greek astronomer and geographer who lived during the 2nd century A.D. In his book Geographia, Ptolemy calculated the distance from the equator to the important places on earth known at that time and included 27 maps with detailed descriptions.
Pierre d’Ailly [1350-1420]
Pierre d’Ailly was a French theologian and Cardinal of the Catholic Church. The Ymago Mundi was a series of twelve treatises speculating on geography and astronomy. They were accompanied by a mappamundi to illustrate his geographical theories.](http://www.ccmuseumedres.com/userpictures/html_page_image.6.1.s.jpg)
Click Image to Enlarge |
Columbus planned to find the East by sailing West. His idea was not new. As a cartographer and bookseller in Portugal, Columbus had access to ancient works as well as contemporary maps and theories of the day. He relied on the maps and geographical theories by Ptolemy first published in the 2nd century A.D. to calculate [incorrectly] the distance to Asia. Marco Polo’s written accounts of his travels in the East in the 13th century provided details of the types of riches to be found. Contemporary maps and geographical theories by Pierre d’Ailly (1410), Toscanelli (1471) and the world globe produced by Martin Behaim (1492) suggested a western sea route to reach the landmass – and riches - of the East.
Ptolemy [c. 85 - c.165 A.D.]
Claudius Ptolemaeus [or Ptolemy] was a Greek astronomer and geographer who lived during the 2nd century A.D. In his book Geographia, Ptolemy calculated the distance from the equator to the important places on earth known at that time and included 27 maps with detailed descriptions.
Pierre d’Ailly [1350-1420]
Pierre d’Ailly was a French theologian and Cardinal of the Catholic Church. The Ymago Mundi was a series of twelve treatises speculating on geography and astronomy. They were accompanied by a mappamundi to illustrate his geographical theories. |
Toscanelli [1397-1482]
Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli was an Italian astronomer and cosmographer who knew Ptolemy’s writings, read Marco Polo’s Travels, and collected information from merchants and seamen. He concluded that the European and Asian landmasses covered two thirds of the earth, leaving only a small portion of the ocean to be crossed by ship. In 1474 Toscanelli wrote a letter accompanied by a map to King Alfonso of Portugal suggesting the best way to the East was to sail West. It is believed a copy of this letter and chart reached Christopher Columbus who used this document to support the feasibility of his proposed westward ocean journey. |
![Toscanelli [1397-1482]
Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli was an Italian astronomer and cosmographer who knew Ptolemy’s writings, read Marco Polo’s Travels, and collected information from merchants and seamen. He concluded that the European and Asian landmasses covered two thirds of the earth, leaving only a small portion of the ocean to be crossed by ship. In 1474 Toscanelli wrote a letter accompanied by a map to King Alfonso of Portugal suggesting the best way to the East was to sail West. It is believed a copy of this letter and chart reached Christopher Columbus who used this document to support the feasibility of his proposed westward ocean journey.](http://www.ccmuseumedres.com/userpictures/html_page_image.8.1.s.jpg)
Click Image to Enlarge |
1451 - Born Cristoforo(name in Italian) in Genoa, Italy to Susanna and Domenico Colombo.
1473 - Became a sailor.
1476 - Lived and married in Portugal, Ran map store and sailed with Portuguese trading fleet.
1484-90 - Petitions Royal Courts of Portugal and Spain to finance adventure, but was refused.
1491 - King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agreed to finance his voyage.
1492 - First voyage with Spanish financing, (San Salvador, Cuba, and Hispaniola)
1493 - Second Voyage (West Indies, Puerto Rico, Dominica and Jamaica.
1498 -Third Voyage (Trinidad, South America)
1502 - Fourth Voyage (central and South America)
1506 - Died in Valladolid, Spain |
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![Columbus planned to find the East by sailing West. His idea was not new. As a cartographer and bookseller in Portugal, Columbus had access to ancient works as well as contemporary maps and theories of the day. He relied on the maps and geographical theories by Ptolemy first published in the 2nd century A.D. to calculate [incorrectly] the distance to Asia. Marco Polo’s written accounts of his travels in the East in the 13th century provided details of the types of riches to be found. Contemporary maps and geographical theories by Pierre d’Ailly (1410), Toscanelli (1471) and the world globe produced by Martin Behaim (1492) suggested a western sea route to reach the landmass – and riches - of the East.
Ptolemy [c. 85 - c.165 A.D.]
Claudius Ptolemaeus [or Ptolemy] was a Greek astronomer and geographer who lived during the 2nd century A.D. In his book Geographia, Ptolemy calculated the distance from the equator to the important places on earth known at that time and included 27 maps with detailed descriptions.
Pierre d’Ailly [1350-1420]
Pierre d’Ailly was a French theologian and Cardinal of the Catholic Church. The Ymago Mundi was a series of twelve treatises speculating on geography and astronomy. They were accompanied by a mappamundi to illustrate his geographical theories.](javascript:JSWindowOpener('zoom.php?picture=http://www.ccmuseumedres.com/userpictures/html_page_image.6.1.jpg',630,450))
![Toscanelli [1397-1482]
Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli was an Italian astronomer and cosmographer who knew Ptolemy’s writings, read Marco Polo’s Travels, and collected information from merchants and seamen. He concluded that the European and Asian landmasses covered two thirds of the earth, leaving only a small portion of the ocean to be crossed by ship. In 1474 Toscanelli wrote a letter accompanied by a map to King Alfonso of Portugal suggesting the best way to the East was to sail West. It is believed a copy of this letter and chart reached Christopher Columbus who used this document to support the feasibility of his proposed westward ocean journey.](javascript:JSWindowOpener('zoom.php?picture=http://www.ccmuseumedres.com/userpictures/html_page_image.8.1.jpg',630,450))