Von Dem Europa [Europe]

Presenting Europe as a united force against the Turks.

This interesting woodcut map shows a simplified and highly distorted outline of Europe, situated between Africa and Asia (unnamed). A handful of kingdoms and geographic features are labeled using typeface set into the block at the time of printing.

The image presents a continent apparently united under the banner of Christendom to fight the ongoing Turkish threat from the east. Natural borders are shown in the form of the River Don, the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, and Baltic Sea. Accompanying text, in German, provides additional contemporary information.

The map was likely published in Basel around 1588 as part of Sebastian Munster’s Cosmographia. The Cosmographia, first published in 1544, was one of the most important texts of the 16th century and influenced geographic thought for generations of scholars and mapmakers. According to Magdalena Peszko of the British Library;

“The Cosmographia is a compendium of historical and geographical knowledge compiled from information gathered as part of Münster’s personal research, international collaborations and editions of the classical authors. The work was based on up-to-date knowledge and provided the geographical and historical overview of the world, natural history, topographical features, boundaries and administrative division of the described lands, their inhabitants, flora and fauna.”

The image of a united Europe contrasts sharply with the contemporary political reality, but it did perhaps provide some measure of comfort to an audience constantly worried about the state of Christianity. Interestingly, the map omits the names for Greece and Hungary, both of which are labeled on earlier editions – possibly an effort to ignore Ottoman territorial control?

Sources: British Library Blog; Columbia University; Musings on Maps – Europa Regina