The group published their efforts on the pre-print open access repository arXiv. Gott was joined by Princeton mathematician Robert Vanderbrei and physicist David Goldberg from Drexel University in Philadelphia to create the map. Gott, Vanderbei and Goldberg/Princeton University The group said they believed it was the most accurate 2-D map of the Earth ever produced. Richard Gott, Robert Vanderbei and David Goldberg. In this form it can be placed in Google Earth.Map by J. Below is Monte's map georeferenced and re-projected as Plate Caree or Geographic. Monte would have been pleased to see a modern version of his map used in the official emblem of the United Nations. In the 20th century air age, the polar projection returned as a favored way to show the earth. While Mercator’s projection became standard in years to come due to its ability to accurately measure distance and bearing, Monte’s polar projection gave a better view of the relationships of the continents and oceans. Those same distortions exist in the Mercator’s world map, and by their outsized prominence on Monte’s map they gave him a vast area to indulge in all the speculations about Antarctica that proliferated in geographical descriptions in the 16th century. His projection does just that, notwithstanding the distortions around the south pole. When we georeference Monte’s map and then re-project it into Mercator projection we immediately understand why he used the north polar projection instead of Mercator’s: Monte wanted to show the entire earth as close as possible to a three-dimensional sphere using a two-dimensional surface. This was never done, but now we can do it virtually - Monte's 60 sheet world map digitally assembled into a 10 foot planisphere: In his dedication on Tavola XL he specifies how to arrange the sheets of the planisphere and makes it explicit that the whole map was to be stuck on a wooden panel 5 and a half brachia square (about ten feet) so that it could be revolved around a central pivot or pin through the north pole. Monte made his map to serve not only as a geographical tool but also to show climate, customs, length of day, distances within regions - in other words, to create a universal scientific planisphere. The degree of detail and decoration is stunning and the entire production is surely unique in the history of cartographic representation. The assembled map, just over 10 feet in diameter, is one of the largest-if not the largest-world maps made in the 16th century. Now that we have joined all 60 sheets digitally (accomplished with great skill by Brandon Rumsey), we can appreciate in a new way the extraordinary accomplishment that Monte made. The only assembled version is the small single page key sheet of the series. Until now, Monte’s manuscript map was seen as a series of 60 individual sheets. Science, art, and history all in one document. Monte's map reminds us of why historical maps are so important as primary resources: the north polar azimuthal projection of his planisphere uses the advanced scientific ideas of his time the artistry in drawing and decorating the map embodies design at the highest level and the view of the world then gives us a deep historical resource with the listing of places, the shape of spaces, and the commentary interwoven into the map. The digitally joined 60 sheet map image below is the first time the map Monte made has been seen as one unified map - as Monte intended - in the 430 years since it was created. It was hand drawn by Monte in Milan, Italy, and only one other manuscript copy exists. At 10 foot square, this map or planisphere is the largest known early map of the world. Planisphere of 1587Īn extraordinary 60 sheet manuscript world map made in 1587 by Urbano Monte has been added to the David Rumsey Map Collection at Stanford University.
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