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Vniversale descrittione di tvtto il monde /
Summary
Relief shown pictorially.
Probably the second state of the map. Differs from the first state in the reworking of Tierra del Fuego to include the Straits of Magellan. Presents Staten Island, west of Tierra del Fuego, as an island, presumably based on the observations of Hendrik Brouwer in 1643. Differs from the state owned by the Harry Ransom Center by the presence of a blank cartouche off the west coast of Africa in the center of the map.
Includes text and illustrations.
Wall map assembled from 10 engraved folio sheets.
Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image.
In the 17th century, maps took a huge leap forward. Mathematical and astronomical knowledge necessary to make accurate measurements had evolved. English mathematicians had perfected triangulation: navigation and surveying by right-angled triangles. Triangulation allowed navigators to set accurate courses and produced accurate land surveys. Seamen learned to correct their compasses for declination and had determined the existence of annual compass variation. Latitude determination was greatly improved with the John Davis quadrant. The measurement of distance sailed at sea was improved by another English invention, the common log. Longitudinal distance between Europe and Québec was determined by solar and lunar eclipses by the Jesuit Bressani in the 1640s and by Jean Deshayes in 1686. With accurate surveys in Europe, the grid of the modern map began to take shape.
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