Maps, Navigation and Discoveries in the Middle Ages and Beyond
A VOYAGE IN TIME AND TO NEWLY DISCOVERED LANDS
Maps, Navigation and Discoveries in the Middle Ages and Beyond
Présenter Jean-Claude Fouéré
Course synopsis:
Throughout the Middle Ages European maps evolved from abstract theological
concepts of the world to accurate geographic representations of the world as it became
revealed from the explorations by middle-eastern Arab and western European sailors,
and from the rediscovery of maps drawn by Greek geographers. Maps became
essential and indispensible to safely reach the riches of Africa, Asia, and the newly
discovered Americas. Maritime powers--Venice, Genoa, Catalan, Portuguese and
Castellan, followed by the Dutch, English and French--systematically collected new
information from captains and navigators coming back from their pioneering voyages to
remote shores. Cartographers systematically laid down recently acquired knowledge on
their maps then jealously guarded them from the reach of competitive powers. We will
examine the profiles and study the work of some of the most famous navigators and
most renowned cartographers, and assess their contributions to our knowledge of our
world.
Looking at maps from the 11th to late 16th centuries, we will navigate the ancient shores
of the Mediterranean Sea and the Western shore of Africa. We will round the Cape of
Good Hope and sail to the Indian Ocean and beyond to South East Asia in search of
precious spices. Following in Columbus’s wake, we will sail the Atlantic Ocean to the
newly found shores of the Americas and sail across the Pacific Ocean to South East
Asia.
The maps will also give us an idea of the evolution and improvement in navigation
techniques and instruments, and of ocean sailing ships, and will highlight the fierce
competition among European naval powers for the discovery and conquest of new
territories, and of the exploitation and trading of newly discovered riches.
Schedule:
Wednesdays April19, April 26, May 3, May 10 (*), May 17 & May 24, 11:00AM.
(*) Field trip – visit to NYPL Map Section scheduled on May 10, 2017.
Required A/V equipment: PC + projector; document camera; whiteboard with color
markers
Maps, navigation and discoveries - revised
04-26-2017
Jean-Claude Fouéré
[email protected]
Maps, Navigation and Discoveries in the Middle Ages and Beyond
Presenter profile: Jean-Claude Fouéré
Trained as an engineer with a dual Master of Science in Physics Engineering (I.N.S.A.,
Lyons, France) and in Optical Systems (U. of Rochester, NY), Jean-Claude Fouéré has
worked twenty years on design of optical systems (astronomical instrumentation, laser
printers, optical recording, optical lithography) as an engineer and as an engineering
manager, followed by another twenty years on the development and marketing of
industrial systems used in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, allowing him to
develop and manage markets for these systems in Western Europe and in Asia.
Now retired, Jean-Claude Fouéré teaches International Marketing as part-time faculty at
Marist College. He is active on the Board of Directors of the Adirondack Mountain Club
(www.ADK.org) and on the Board of Directors of Canada-based Light Up The World
(www.LUTW.org) a NGO dedicated to the installation and use of photovoltaic systems
and LED lights in remote areas of Central and South America which do not have direct
access to the electricity grid.
Jean-Claude Fouéré enjoys many of the outdoors activities that the Hudson Valley and
the Adirondack Mountains offer, winter and summer alike.
Jean-Claude Fouéré has a strong interest in geography and history, and a passion for
maps.
Maps, navigation and discoveries - revised
04-26-2017
Jean-Claude Fouéré
[email protected]
Maps, Navigation and Discoveries in the Middle Ages and Beyond
Course outline
Course introductory comments:
1. Interests and motivation.
2. Objectives: generate interests for maps, navigation, discoveries throughout
history.
3. Instructor will act as a navigator, not a professor! The course material is
presented as a navigation log!
4. Map throughout ages: from early Mesopotamia clay maps to Google Earth.
Earliest recovered map:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_Map_of_the_World
Google earth map:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.672642,-73.9303705,991m/data=!3m1!1e3
5. Course will cover maps and navigation from the 11th to the early 17th century, a
relatively short period of time, in Southern and Western Europe essentially from
where we will launch expeditions to India and to Southeast Asia, and to the yet to
be discovered Americas.
6. Course will cast some light on the history of Southern and Western Europe,
mostly, and of the Middle East, using maps as the most preferred way to convey
information.
Note: although Norse expeditions especially in the North Sea were very
intensive, they are not documented by known maps of the time but related with
Norse saga, therefore limiting our scope.
7. Course will also attempt to draw some lessons from history, ex.: Crusades; trade;
country competition and rivalries.
Maps, navigation and discoveries - revised
04-26-2017
Jean-Claude Fouéré
[email protected]
Maps, Navigation and Discoveries in the Middle Ages and Beyond
Class format:
The format of the course mimics a navigation log. Giving us some geography and
history background information, it will assist us navigating the geographic area during
the periods of history that are covered.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Topics introduction
Summary of major historic trends and events in period covered in class
Consultation of most significant maps
Next class preparation – invitation to consult maps of most interest
Extensive of websites to access relevant information
8. Participation is very much encouraged
Class 1 - April 19, 2017: Introduction – 11th-13th century High Middle Ages
1.
2.
3.
4.
Course introduction, motivation and objectives
Course calendar; planning visit to NYPL
Course topics introduction
Time frame, a short 11th century to early 17th century slice of time over the 4,000
years, from 2000 BC to 2000 CE, when maps have been in use
5. Maps have been developed to display information and knowledge of geography
and of history
6. Geographic environment; main historic trends in the 11th to early 17th century
period
7. Early maps, Greek geographers
8. “Theological” maps of early Middle Ages – O-T maps
9. Arab traders and geographers, maps
10. History timeline; main events in Western Europe, Middle East and Far East; role
of the Crusades.
11. Importance of East – West trade; role of Italian city states (Genoa, Pisa, Venice)
12. Maps to consult ahead of next class:
Hereford Mappa Mundi circa 1300 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mappa_mundi
Angelino de Dalorto 1325 portolan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelino_Dulcert
Class 2 - April 26, 2017: late 13th-mid 15th century Late Middle Ages
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
History timeline; main events in Western Europe, Middle East and Far East
Importance of East – West trade; role of Italian city states (Genoa, Pisa, Venice)
Mediterranean maps: Portolan charts; cartographers
Indian Ocean and SE Asia navigation
Chinese navigation and Ming Dynasty nautical expeditions (Zheng He)
Maps, navigation and discoveries - revised
04-26-2017
Jean-Claude Fouéré
[email protected]
Maps, Navigation and Discoveries in the Middle Ages and Beyond
6. Sailing boats main characteristics and evolution
7. Navigation techniques and aids
8. Maps to consult ahead of next class:
World map 1507 Martin Waldseemuller Universalis Cosmographia
http://www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/waldexh.html
World map 1538 Gerardus Mercator
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerardus_Mercator
Class 3 – May 3, 2017: late 15th – mid 16th century Renaissance
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
History timeline
East – West trade: the drive to reach the riches of India, the Spice Islands, China
Sailing East or sailing West? That is the question?
East: Bartolomeo Diaz, Vasco de Gama
West: Cristobal Colombo
Indian Ocean navigation & commerce
Atlantic Ocean navigation and discoveries
Rounding the world – Magellan; Drake
Nautical power shifts from Western Mediterranean to Channel and North Sea
Class 4 – May 10, 2017: mid 16th – early 17th century High Renaissance
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
History timeline
Discoveries – conquest – exploitation – Christianization
Discoveries – colonization – harvesting and fishing
Increasing importance of intercontinental trade
Importance and consequences of Colombian Exchange
Visit to NYPL Map Section - preparation
Class 5 – Friday May 12, 2017: visit to NYPL Map Section scheduled at 11:00AM.
Class 6 – May 17, 2017:
1. Some renowned cartographers: Al-Idrisi; Abraham Cresques; Fra Mauro;
Henricus Martellus Germanus; Martin Behaim; Juan de la Cosa; Martin
Waldseemuller; Gerardus Mercator; Jean Rotz; Jodocus Hondus
2. Sighting of Australia by Western European navigators
3. The geographic world as we now know it today (almost)
4. Course wrap-up, conclusion and feedback
Maps, navigation and discoveries - revised
04-26-2017
Jean-Claude Fouéré
[email protected]