Mapping the Past
Maps became important during the expansion of the Roman Empire. One of the most prominent geographers of that period was Claudius Ptolemy (c.100-c.170 AD), whose 'Geographia' was influential for around 1,500 years.
This section contains sixteenth- and seventeenth-century maps of the Classical and Biblical worlds influenced by Ptolemy.
Jakob Ziegler, Terrae Sanctae, quam Palaestinam nominant, Syriae, Arabiae, Aegypti, & Schondiae doctissima descriptio (Strasbourg, 1536).
Geografia; Tavole Moderne di Geografia de la Maggior Parte del Mondo di diversi autori raccolte et messe secondo l'ordine de Ptolomeo (Rome, c.1550).
Marcus Fabius Calvus, Antiquae urbis Romae cum regionibus simulachrum (Basel, 1556).
Christian Kruik van Adrichem, Theatrum Terrae Sanctae (Cologne, 1600).
Theatrum Geographiae Vetus (Amsterdam, 1618-19).
Leonardo Cernoti, Geografia cioè Descrittione Universale della Terra Partita in Due Volumi (Padua, 1621).
Samuel Purchas, His Pilgrimes, in five books (London, 1625).
Carlo Giangolino, Hedengrafia Ouero Descrittione del Paradiso Terrestre (Messina, 1649).