Cartography, map-making and projections Books

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Alfonsine Tables became the main computing tool for astronomers for about 250 years, from their compilation in Toledo ca. 1272 to the edition in 1551 of new tables based on Copernicus’s astronomical models. It consisted of a set of astronomical tables which, over time, was presented in many different formats. Giovanni Bianchini (d. after 1469), an astronomer active in Ferrara, Italy, was among the few scholars of that extended period to compile a coherent and insightful set based on the Alfonsine Tables. His tables, described and analyzed here for the first time, played a remarkable role in the transmission of the Alfonsine Tables and in their transition from manuscript to print. Medieval and Early Modern Science, 10Trade Review"Les Tables sous examen sont probablement l'ensemble le plus volumineux produit en Europe dans le genre avant les temps modernes. Dans la mesure où le travail de l'astronome de Ferrare s'inscrit dans la continuité des Tables alphonsines, cet accroissement fait mieux comprendre et mieux apprécié le travail accomplit par les astronomes du roi Alphonse X de Castille dans la deuxième partie du XIIIe siècle." "L'analyse technique est à tout point de vue excellent et ne prête pas à redire." Max Lejbowicz, Aestimatio 6 (2009) 155-161 "The book [...] is an important step, shining a more focused light on Bianchini's inventive Tabulae astronomiae, providing a succinct technical guide to its contents, and describing clearly its innovations." "The history of astronomy can only benefit from an increased attention to numerical tables, and this book is an excellent contribution. It is highly recommended for readers with the appropriate background." Glen Van Brummelen, Journal for the History of Astronomy, Vol. 41, Part 4, No. 145 (November 2010), 514-516Table of ContentsPreface Introduction 1. Giovanni Bianchini: Life and work 2. Analysis of the tables 2.1. Introduction 2.2. Tables in ed. 1495 2.3. Other tables in the manuscripts and ed. 1526, but not included in ed. 1495 2.4. Other tables in ed. 1526 or in MS Nu that are not included in ed. 1495 or in MS Na Notation References Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe sudden appearance of portolan charts, realistic nautical charts of the Mediterranean and Black Sea, at the end of the thirteenth century is one of the most significant occurrences in the history of cartography. Using geodetic and statistical analysis techniques these charts are shown to be mosaics of partial charts that are considerably more accurate than has been assumed. Their accuracy exceeds medieval mapping capabilities. These sub-charts show a remarkably good agreement with the Mercator map projection. It is demonstrated that this map projection can only have been an intentional feature of the charts’ construction. Through geodetic analysis the author eliminates the possibility that the charts are original products of a medieval Mediterranean nautical culture, which until now they have been widely believed to be.Table of ContentsPreface xi Acknowledgements xiv List of Illustrations xv 1. Introduction 1 1.1 The Origin of Portolan Charts: Research Challenges 1 1.2 Objective and Scope of this Book 4 1.3 Four ‘Pillars’ 5 2. Key Characteristics of Portolan Charts 11 2.1 Preamble 11 2.2 Distinguishing Characteristics 12 2.3 Disputed, Unclear and Unsatisfactorily Explained Aspects of Portolan Charts 19 3. Existing Hypotheses on the Origin and Construction Method of Portolan Charts 44 3.1 Scholarly Views on the Origins Debate 44 3.2 Ideas on Antique Origins 46 3.3 Hypotheses on Medieval Origins 52 3.4 Hypotheses on Portolan Chart Construction 59 3.5 Plane Charts versus Plane Charting 63 3.6 The Rotation Angle 76 3.7 Methodological Considerations 82 4. Cartometric Analysis; Methodology and Existing Research 86 4.1 Introduction 86 4.2 Quantitative Analysis Methods – A Conceptual Classification 92 4.3 Existing Cartometric Studies 103 4.4 Chart Selection 116 4.5 Cartometric Analysis Approach 119 5 Cartometric Analysis of Five Charts 133 5.1 Carte Pisane 133 5.2 Anonymous Genoese Chart (Ricc 3827) 138 5.3 The Ristow-Skelton No. 3 Chart (RS-3) 143 5.4 The Dulcert 1339 Chart 147 5.5 The Roselli 1466 Chart 148 5.6 Analysis of All Results 152 5.7 How Difficult is It to Make an Accurate Map? 195 5.8 Conclusions 197 6 The Relationship between Portolans and Portolan Charts 201 6.1 Introduction 201 6.2 Existing Research 202 6.3 A New Analysis of Lo Compasso de Navegare 216 6.4 Summary of the Analysis 276 6.5 Conclusions 283 7. Constraints on Shipping and Navigation in the Medieval Mediterranean 285 7.1 Introduction 285 7.2 The Physical Conditions of the Mediterranean 286 7.3 Medieval Ships 298 7.4 An Accuracy Model for Medieval Mediterranean Navigation 311 7.5 Conclusions 322 8. The Map Projection, Artificial or Intentional? 324 8.1 Introduction 324 8.2 A Priori Geodetic Objections 327 8.3 Existing Research 331 8.4 Conceptual Workflow and Test Criteria 335 8.5 Design Principles for a ‘Medieval’ Geodetic Network 337 8.6 Introductory Information on Geodetic Network Analysis 341 8.7 Network Definition and Analysis 348 8.8 Network Adjustment #1 (Accuracy) 351 8.9 Network Adjustment #2 (Shape) 358 8.10 Summary of the Geodetic Analysis 367 8.11 Accuracy Enhancement by Averaging in the Context of the History of Science 369 8.12 Conclusions from This Chapter 376 9. Navigational Practices in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries 377 9.1 Drawing up the Interim Balance 377 9.2 Navigational Tools: Charts & Dividers, Needle & Star 379 9.3 The Toleta de Marteloio 382 9.4 The Mathematical Seaman 388 9.5 Early Time Measurement at Sea 391 9.6 Distance Measurement at Sea 392 9.7 Bearing Measurement – The Mariner’s Compass 397 9.8 Conclusions 413 10 An Arabic-Islamic Origin of Portolan Charts? 414 10.1 Introduction 414 10.2 Ibn Fadl’allah’s Map – The ‘Mamun Geography’ 415 10.3 Progress in Astro-geodetic Position Determination 417 10.4 Sezgin’s Hypothesized Construction Method of Portolan Charts 420 10.5 Further Arguments Presented by Sezgin for an Arabic-Islamic Origin of Portolan Charts 423 11. Conclusions 429 11.1 Recap of Conclusions by Chapter 429 11.2 The Four ‘Pillars’ of the Medieval Origin Hypothesis 433 11.3 Key Conclusions from this Study 437 12 Synthesis 439 12.1 Introduction 439 12.2 The Appearance of Portolan Charts in Medieval Italy 439 12.3 Remaining Issues 442 12.4 Recommendations for Further Research 450 Appendix A: The Historical Setting of the Emergence of Portolan Charts 453 A.1 The Medieval Mediterranean – Relevant Historical Aspects 453 A.2 The Awakening of Europe 454 A.3 The Italian Maritime Republics and Aragon 455 Appendix B: Calculation of the Length of a Rhumb Line 467 B.1 An Arbitrary Line on a Sphere 467 B.2 The Line in a Specified Direction on a Sphere 468 B.3 Mercator Sailing – How to Plot Sailed Distance on a Chart? 469 Appendix C: The Plane Charting Examples from Chapter 2 471 C.1 Dimensions of the Earth 471 C.2 The Routes from Livorno to Dellys 471 C.3 Four More Arbitrary Routes 479 Appendix D: Accuracy Model for Medieval Navigation 483 D.1 Introduction 483 D.2 Along-course Accuracy 484 D.3 Cross-course Accuracy 490 Appendix E: Cartometric Analysis Details 495 E.1 Coordinates of Identical Points 495 E.2 Preprocessing – Wind Rose Analysis 498 E.3 Main Cartometric Analysis 499 Appendix F: Reliability of the CALS7k.2 Archaeomagnetic Model 504 Appendix G: Is the Map Projection Accidental? A Statistical Analysis 508 G.1 Preamble 508 G.2 Statistical Basis 508 G.3 Test Results 510 G.4 Discussion 515 G.5 Conclusion 516 Appendix H: The Preface of the Liber de existencia riveriarum 517 Bibliography 520 Index 538

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn Companions in Geography Mario Cams revisits the early 18th century mapping of Qing China, without doubt one of the largest cartographic endeavours of the early modern world. Commonly seen as a Jesuit initiative, the project appears here as the result of a convergence of interests among the French Academy of Sciences, the Jesuit order, and the Kangxi emperor (r. 1661-1722). These connections inspired the gradual integration of European and East Asian scientific practices and led to a period of intense land surveying, executed by large teams of Qing officials and European missionaries. The resulting maps and atlases, all widely circulated across Eurasia, remained the most authoritative cartographic representations of continental East Asia for over a century. This book is based on Dr. Mario Cams' dissertation, which has been awarded the "2017 DHST Prize for Young Scholars" from the International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, Division of History of Science and Technology (IUHPST/DHST).Trade Review"This substantial and in many ways impressive work analyses map making in the Qing-dynasty empire during the reign of Kangxi emperor (1661–1722), and that of his successor Yongzheng (1722–1735). […] Cams’s book is clearly well grounded and written; it unquestionably offers valuable new insights to sinologists and researchers working on a variety of topics, opening the door for further research." Davor Antonucci, Sapienza Università di Roma (Imago Mundi 70:2 2018)Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Illustrations Introduction: Towards a New Cartography of Cross-cultural Circulation  1 Situating the Study  2 Delineation and Approach  3 Cartography and the Jesuit Missions to China  4 Chapter Overview 1 Instruments for the Emperor: New Frontiers, New Practices  1.1 An Instrumental Convergence of Interests   1.1.1 The Académie and the Instrument Market in Paris   1.1.2 The King’s Mathematicians’ Interest in Cartography   1.1.3 Paris-made Instruments for the French Mission  1.2 Improving Cartographies: An Emperor’s Quest   1.2.1 The Kangxi Emperor’s Cartographic Aspirations   1.2.2 Qing Statecraft and Cartographic Practice   1.2.3 The Qing Court’s Appropriation of Paris-made Instruments  1.3 Frontier Matters: New Qing Cartographic Practice   1.3.1 Integrating the Khalka: Exploring a New Frontier   1.3.2 The 1698 Preliminary Survey   1.3.3 Re-standardizing the Qing’s Most Basic Unit of Length   Conclusion Intermission One: Missionaries or Mapmakers? The Mapping Project and its Place in the Mission   Justifying Missionary Involvement   The Unauthorized Return of Joachim Bouvet   Conclusion 2 Of Instruments and Maps: The Land Surveys in Practice  2.1 Beyond the Passes: Observations and Calculations   2.1.1 New Qing Cartographic Practice along the Great Wall   2.1.2 Revisiting the Manchu Homelands and Northern Frontiers   2.1.3 Strategic Expeditions into Korea and Tibet  2.2 The Logistics in Mapping the Chinese Provinces   2.2.1 Moving South: Sequence, Timing and Strategies   2.2.2 Directed from the Center: The Emperor and His Administration   2.2.3 Team Composition and Local Support  2.3 The Imperial Workshops Connection   2.3.1 Mapmakers from the Inner Palace   2.3.2 European Technical Experts and Assistants   2.3.3 The Logistical Centrality of the Imperial Workshops   Conclusion Intermission Two: Missionaries and Mapmakers: Missionary Activity during the Land Surveys   The Restitution of Church Buildings   The Impact of the Chinese Rites Controversy   Conclusion 3 The Afterlife of Maps: Circulation, Adaptation, and Negotiation  3.1 The Printed Life of the Overview Maps of Imperial Territories   3.1.1 The Woodblock Editions   3.1.2 The Copperplate Editions   3.1.3 Imperially Commissioned Compilations and Later Renditions  3.2 The European Incorporation of a Qing Atlas   3.2.1 Early Transmissions and Reception in Europe   3.2.2 Contracting Jean-Baptiste Bourguingon d’Anville   3.2.3 Intercultural Adaptation: d’Anville’s Regional Maps  3.3 Beijing, Paris and Saint Petersburg: Negotiating the Gaps   3.3.1 d’Anville’s General Maps and the Paris-Saint Petersburg Connection   3.3.2 The Saint Petersburg Connection to Beijing   3.3.3 d’Anville’s Maps: Reception and Further Adaptations   Conclusion   Annex: Extant Kangxi-era Sheets (Printed) Conclusion: Unlocking Dichotomies: Revisiting Cross-cultural Circulation   On Qing Imperial Cartography: Traditional vs. Scientific Practice   On the Role of the Individual: Global vs. Local Networks   On Instruments and Maps: The Circulation vs. the Production of Knowledge   On Interculturality: China vs. Europe References and Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince antiquity, artists have visualized the known world through the female (sometimes male) body. In the age of exploration, America was added to figures of Europe, Asia, and Africa who would come to inhabit the borders of geographical visual imagery. In the abundance of personifications in print, painting, ceramics, tapestry, and sculpture, do portrayals vary between hierarchy and global human dignity? Are we witnessing the emergence of ethnography or of racism? Yet, as this volume shows, depictions of bodies as places betray the complexity of human claims and desires. Bodies and Maps: Early Modern Personifications of the Continents opens up questions about early modern politics, travel literature, sexualities, gender, processes of making, and the mobility of forms and motifs. Contributors are: Louise Arizzoli, Elisa Daniele, Hilary Haakenson, Elizabeth Horodowich, Maryanne Cline Horowitz, Ann Rosalind Jones, Paul H. D. Kaplan, Marion Romberg, Mark Rosen, Benjamin Schmidt, Chet Van Duzer, Bronwen Wilson, and Michael Wintle.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Illustrations Notes on the Editors Notes on the Contributors 1 Introduction (1): Rival Interpretations of Continent Personifications  Maryanne Cline Horowitz 2 Introduction (2): Allegories of the Four Continents Today: Assessing Contemporary Contributions  Louise Arizzoli Part 1: Personifications of the Continents and Issues of Race and Gender 3 Gender and Race in the Personification of the Continents in the Early Modern Period: Building Eurocentrism  Michael Wintle 4 Exotic Female (and Male) Continents: Early Modern Fourfold Division of Humanity  Maryanne Cline Horowitz Part 2: Cartographical Origins of Early Continent Personification 5 The Pre-History of the Personification of Continents on Maps: Earth, Ocean, and the Sons of Noah  Chet Van Duzer 6 Magi, Winds, Continents: Dark Skin and Global Allegory in Early Modern Images  Paul H.D. Kaplan Part 3: Personifications of the World in Italian Frescoes 7 Casting the Continents: Sacred History and Spiritual Odyssey in the Camposanto of Pisa  Hilary Anne Haakenson 8 Portraits of the World – The Four Continents at Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola: The Figurative Code, Sources and Comparisons  Elisa Antonietta Daniele Part 4: Continent Personifications in Maps and Book Illustration 9 Why were there no Continental Allegories in Renaissance Venice? The Amerasian Personifications of Giuseppe Rosaccio  Elizabeth Horodowich 10 Worlds Apart: The Four Continents and the Civitates Orbis Terrarum  Mark Rosen 11 When Allegory Met History: Allegories of the Continents on Costume-Book Title Pages in the Late Sixteenth Century  Ann Rosalind Jones Part 5: Popularization of Continent Personifications in the Eighteenth Century 12 The Visible Church – The Discourse on an Ecclesia Triumphans and the Four Continents in Parish Churches of Baroque Southern Germany  Marion Romberg 13 The Rearing Horse and the Kneeling Camel: Continental Ceramics and Europe’s Race to Modernity  Benjamin Schmidt 14 Collecting the Four Continents: James Hazen Hyde (1876–1959), an American in Paris  Louise Arizzoli 15 Afterword: Ornament and the Fabrication of Early Modern Worlds  Bronwen Wilson Index Nominum

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn Describing the City, Describing the State Sandra Toffolo presents a comprehensive analysis of descriptions of the city of Venice and the Venetian Terraferma in the Renaissance, when the Venetian mainland state was being created. Working with an extensive variety of descriptions, the book demonstrates that no one narrative of Venice prevailed in the early modern European imagination, and that authors continuously adapted geographical descriptions to changing political circumstances. This in turn illustrates the importance of studying geographical representation and early modern state formation together. Moreover, it challenges the long-standing concept of the myth of Venice, by showing that Renaissance observers never saw the city of Venice and the Venetian Terraferma in a monolithic way.Trade Review“Sandra Toffolo’s work has undoubtedly identified a perspective that, until now, has been neglected by historiography. […] Toffolo’s attempt to bring together the two souls of the Venetian State – sea and mainland – is also admirable. It is something that scholars have only recently started to explore. […] Sandra Toffolo’s book succeeds in opening a window on the potential for further inquiries into Renaissance geographical descriptions, on the one hand, and for a stronger inclusion of mainland voices, long underrated in the study of Venice” Daniele Dibello, Ghent University. In: Journal of Early Modern History, Vol. 25, Nos. 1–2 (March 2021).Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Figures A Note on the Book Introduction  1 Geographical Descriptions, the Myth of Venice, and the Venetian Terraferma  2 Placing Texts within Literary Contexts  3 Constructing a Mainland State  4 Outline of the Book part 1: Perceptions of Venice in Its Urban Setting 1 Venice, Religious City  1 God’s Role in the Foundation of Venice  2 Divine Protection throughout History  3 Connections to Saint Mark  4 External Religious Structures  5 The Piety of the Venetians 2 Venice, Centre of Material Culture  1 A City Situated ‘in the Stormy Fury of the Sea’  2 Urban Structure  3 Wealth  4 Commerce  5 Industry  6 Art and Scholarship 3 Venice, Seat of an Ideal Government  1 The Development of a Political Narrative of Venice  2 Elements of a Political Venice  3 The Ideal of a Mixed Constitution  4 The Concept of Liberty  5 Politics and Morality 4 Venice, Morally Exemplary City  1 ‘It Presses Every Gathered Virtue to Its Bosom’  2 A Moral Venice from Its Foundation  3 Morality and Poetry part 2: Perceptions of Venice and the Terraferma as a State 5 Venetian Views on Venice and the Terraferma as a State  1 Justifications for Mainland Expansion  2 The Conquest of Friuli  3 Links between Venice and the Terraferma  4 Political Affiliation as a Factor in the Depiction of Territories 6 Viewing the Venetian Mainland State from the Mainland  1 Two Poems Dedicated to Local Families  2 Ubertino Posculo’s Oratio de laudibus Brixiae  3 Michele Savonarola’s Praise of Padua  4 Silvestro Lando’s Preface to the Statutes of Verona  5 A Paduan Pilgrim on His Way to the Holy Land  6 Four Poems by Bartolomeo Pagello  7 Jacopo Sanguinacci’s Inchoronato regno sopra i regni  8 Francesco Corna da Soncino’s Poem on Verona 7 Foreign Views of the Venetian State  1 ‘Hit Is also Vnder the Domynyon of the Venysyans’: Views of Formal Political Affiliation  2 Political and Geographical Affiliation: the Case of Greece  3 Conflicting Ideas on Venice and the Venetian State  4 Interpreting Venice and Its Dominions in One Common Framework Conclusion: Venice as City, Venice as State Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less