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Rätsel der mittelalterlichen Seekarten: ein Diskussionsbeitrag
Mysteries of Medieval sea charts: a discussion
[journal article]
Abstract
"Of all the illustrations depicting a section of the earth's surface, the first to resemble the actual circumstances closely are Medieval sea charts known as Portolan charts. These depictions appeared quite suddenly in the thirteenth century and exhibit a conspicuous chordal network, a linear system... view more
"Of all the illustrations depicting a section of the earth's surface, the first to resemble the actual circumstances closely are Medieval sea charts known as Portolan charts. These depictions appeared quite suddenly in the thirteenth century and exhibit a conspicuous chordal network, a linear system based on the point of the wind. Mathematical investigations of the coastlines shown on these sea charts have revealed an astonishing degree of precision in comparison to modern charts. It is not known what methods were used to determine the geodetic foundations for the Portolan works. The question of authorship leads back to Roman and Hellenistic antiquity, and it is not impossible to imagine a set of circumstances that could have allowed these mysterious documents to survive ancient times and be handed down through the generations to the Medieval period." (author's abstract)... view less
Classification
History
Natural Science and Engineering, Applied Sciences
Free Keywords
Nachschlagewerke, Atlanten, Kartographie
Document language
German
Publication Year
1998
Page/Pages
p. 411-428
Journal
Deutsches Schiffahrtsarchiv, 21 (1998)
ISSN
0343-3668
Status
Published Version; reviewed
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications