Unknown Europe: The mapping of the Northern countries by Olaus Magnus in 1539

Olaus Magnus, a highly educated Swedish priest and scholar, published his geographically and ethnographically remarkable map of the Northern countries, the Carta marina, in Venice in 1539. During his travels in southern and central Europe Olaus Magnus had noticed how little people knew about the nor...

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Main Author: Leena Miekkavaara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Société Royale Belge de Géographie and the Belgian National Committee of Geography 2008-12-01
Series:Belgeo
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.openedition.org/belgeo/7677
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author Leena Miekkavaara
author_facet Leena Miekkavaara
author_sort Leena Miekkavaara
collection DOAJ
description Olaus Magnus, a highly educated Swedish priest and scholar, published his geographically and ethnographically remarkable map of the Northern countries, the Carta marina, in Venice in 1539. During his travels in southern and central Europe Olaus Magnus had noticed how little people knew about the northern regions. Through the map he wanted to remove this obscurity.The map – which was one of the largest maps of its time (woodcut, 125 x 170 cm) – changed the cartographic representation of the Northern countries profoundly for nearly a hundred years. Due to its numerous illustrations and commentaries, the map was and is a fascinating description of the life in the region during the sixteenth century.The Carta marina was accepted, and it became a model for many cartographers in depicting the Northern countries. Even today the map fascinates the scholars, and many questions are still left unsolved.
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spelling doaj.art-1c37c971081648f2b0a52d8120f46d9b2022-12-21T23:00:32ZengSociété Royale Belge de Géographie and the Belgian National Committee of GeographyBelgeo1377-23682294-91352008-12-01330732410.4000/belgeo.7677Unknown Europe: The mapping of the Northern countries by Olaus Magnus in 1539Leena MiekkavaaraOlaus Magnus, a highly educated Swedish priest and scholar, published his geographically and ethnographically remarkable map of the Northern countries, the Carta marina, in Venice in 1539. During his travels in southern and central Europe Olaus Magnus had noticed how little people knew about the northern regions. Through the map he wanted to remove this obscurity.The map – which was one of the largest maps of its time (woodcut, 125 x 170 cm) – changed the cartographic representation of the Northern countries profoundly for nearly a hundred years. Due to its numerous illustrations and commentaries, the map was and is a fascinating description of the life in the region during the sixteenth century.The Carta marina was accepted, and it became a model for many cartographers in depicting the Northern countries. Even today the map fascinates the scholars, and many questions are still left unsolved.http://journals.openedition.org/belgeo/7677cartographyhistorical mapshistoryScandinavian countriesOlaus MagnusCarta marina 1539
spellingShingle Leena Miekkavaara
Unknown Europe: The mapping of the Northern countries by Olaus Magnus in 1539
Belgeo
cartography
historical maps
history
Scandinavian countries
Olaus Magnus
Carta marina 1539
title Unknown Europe: The mapping of the Northern countries by Olaus Magnus in 1539
title_full Unknown Europe: The mapping of the Northern countries by Olaus Magnus in 1539
title_fullStr Unknown Europe: The mapping of the Northern countries by Olaus Magnus in 1539
title_full_unstemmed Unknown Europe: The mapping of the Northern countries by Olaus Magnus in 1539
title_short Unknown Europe: The mapping of the Northern countries by Olaus Magnus in 1539
title_sort unknown europe the mapping of the northern countries by olaus magnus in 1539
topic cartography
historical maps
history
Scandinavian countries
Olaus Magnus
Carta marina 1539
url http://journals.openedition.org/belgeo/7677
work_keys_str_mv AT leenamiekkavaara unknowneuropethemappingofthenortherncountriesbyolausmagnusin1539