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Description: | This is a portolan chart showing the British Isles. The cartographer is Joan Martines, a chart maker from Messina, Italy. It is dated1582, a date consistent with the presentation of the British Isles. Invented by mariners, portolan charts take their name from the Italian ‘Portolano’, meaning a written description of Catalan and Italian ports along a coastline. The first portolan Charts date from the late 13th century and represent an important change in the use of maps and charts. Until this point, most maps had held a religious significance and purpose, such as the medieval mappa mundi which was based on theological beliefs. The portolan chart contrasts with this tradition as they are based on direct observation and first hand experience and have a practical purpose. Reflecting their use by sailors they note only coastal locations, omitting most of the internal detail of the land. Place names are written at right angels to the coast, the more important ports in red ink. The lines which cover this and all other portolan charts are lines of constant bearing known as rhumb lines. These radiate from compass roses and allow the sailor to plot a course from harbour to harbour using dividers and straight edge. Here, Scotland is shown as an island. The west coast of Ireland is interesting, as although the indentations of the coast line are exaggerated, they are in roughly the correct places. Significantly, the Bay of Cardigan is beginning to develop here, although the Llywn peninsula is not indicated. The Bay of Cardigan only appears on maps after 1550. From this detail the portolan can be dated to the second half of the 16th century. | License: | http://www.bl.uk/services/copy/permission.html | Rights holder: | British Library | Source: | Collect Britain | Creator: | Martines, Joan | Identifier: | http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personal... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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