Terrestrial and Celestial Globes Volume 1their History and Construction Including a Consideration of Their Value as AIDS in the Study of Geography and Astronomy
1540
Terrestrial and Celestial Globes Volume 1their History and Construction Including a Consideration of Their Value as AIDS in the Study of Geography and Astronomy
1540
A scientific publication written in the early 20th century. This work provides a detailed historical account of globes—both terrestrial and celestial—exploring their construction, significance, and evolution as tools in the disciplines of geography and astronomy. The author meticulously examines the historical development of globes from antiquity to the early modern period, highlighting pivotal figures and inventions in the field. The opening of the volume outlines the initial chapters focused on the origins of astronomical and geographical sciences, discussing key early civilizations and thinkers such as the Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans. Stevenson emphasizes the primitive attempts at map-making and globe construction that date back to ancient cultures, detailing contributions from notable figures like Anaximander, Ptolemy, and Eratosthenes. This foundational discussion sets the stage for delving into more specific historical developments of globe-making and their applications in understanding the world, suggesting a comprehensive treatment of the subject throughout the text.
About Terrestrial and Celestial Globes Volume 1their History and Construction Including a Consideration of Their Value as AIDS in the Study of Geography and Astronomy
Chapter Summaries
- I
- Explores the origins of geographical science and early beliefs about Earth's shape, from Babylonian world maps to Greek philosophers like Aristotle who proved Earth's sphericity. Discusses Crates of Mallos who likely made the first terrestrial globe around 150 B.C.
- II
- Examines early celestial globe construction, including the famous Farnese Atlas globe and works by Archimedes. Describes how Romans used globes decoratively and the Byzantine scholar Leontius Mechanicus who left detailed globe construction instructions.
- III
- Details how Islamic scholars preserved and advanced astronomical knowledge during the Middle Ages, creating sophisticated celestial globes with Arabic inscriptions. Describes surviving examples from the 11th-13th centuries.
Key Themes
- Scientific Progress and Discovery
- The book traces how globe making evolved alongside geographical discoveries, from ancient Greek theories to Renaissance explorations of the New World, showing how scientific instruments adapt to new knowledge.
- Art and Science Integration
- Globe making required both scientific accuracy and artistic skill, with craftsmen needing expertise in mathematics, geography, engraving, and decorative arts to create functional yet beautiful instruments.
- Cultural Exchange and Knowledge Transfer
- The history shows how geographical and astronomical knowledge spread between cultures - from Greeks to Arabs to medieval Christians to Renaissance Europeans - with each adding their contributions.
Characters
- Edward Luther Stevenson(protagonist)
- The author and scholar who compiled this comprehensive history of terrestrial and celestial globes. A member of the Hispanic Society of America with expertise in historical geography and cartography.
- Martin Behaim(major)
- German navigator and globe maker (1459-1507) who created the oldest extant terrestrial globe in 1492, known as the 'Erdapfel'. His globe represents the world before Columbus's discoveries.
- Gerhard Mercator(major)
- Flemish cartographer (1512-1594) who revolutionized globe making and map projection. Created influential terrestrial globes and developed the Mercator projection still used today.
- Johann Schöner(major)
- German mathematician and globe maker (1477-1547) from Nürnberg who created multiple influential globes showing evolving geographical knowledge of the New World.
- Gemma Frisius(major)
- Dutch physician and mathematician (1508-1555) who taught at University of Louvain and created early printed globe gores, mentoring Mercator in cartography.
- Ptolemy(major)
- Ancient Alexandrian geographer (ca. 87-150 A.D.) whose geographical theories and star catalogs formed the foundation for medieval and Renaissance globe making.
