Geography in the Middle Ages China continues to be far ahead of Christian Europe Geography a vehicle for Christian propaganda in Europe Muslim translation of Greek works The Norse sailing to Iceland, Greenland, North America

Ancient Influences on Medieval Geography Plato ( BCE) Aristotle ( BCE) –climatic zones Ptolemy ( CE) –geocentric model of the universe

Contemporary Influences Isidore of Seville ( ) Environmental Determinist Albertus Magnus ( ) Astrology & Environmental Determinism

The Deterioration of Mapping 1493 T - O Map Translation

Medieval Christian Travelers Silvia of Aquitaine 1 of the 1st woman geographers early 5th century western Spain Wrote The Pilgrimage of Egeria

The Crusades 8 separate crusades between 1096 & 1270 Extensive travel over sea & land from all parts of Europe to the Holy Land Popular description & travel was geography

Marco Polo 2 brothers & a son –Nicolo & Marco –Maffeo Traders, not Geographers To China by land To Venice by sea

The Polo’s Journey

Bright Spots in Medieval Geography William of Conches ( ) –philosopher & theologian –translated Arabic work –modern ideas concerning heating of the atmosphere from below formation of clouds by cooling air Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln ( ) –also an Arabic speaker –refuted Aristotle’s climatic zones –taught Roger Bacon

Petrus Roselli, 1466, Majorca

Portolan Charts From “portolani” –pilots or rutters Portolan chart –network of lines –coastlines –place names –scale of distance –compass –shoals, reefs, islands List of –places –distances –directions –conditions at sea –port dangers –safe anchorages

Albino de Canepa, 1489, Genoa

Olaus Magnus, 16th century 1st large scale map of a European Region