This Earthly Globe: A Venetian Geographer and the Quest to Map the World
By Andrea Di Robilant
Alfred A. Knopf
ISBN: 9780307597076
This book tells the story of Giovambattista Ramusio and how he created one of the first major works of world geography. First published in the middle of the 16th century, Ramusio’s work reveals much about how knowledge of far off lands came to Venice.
Excerpt:
In the autumn of 1550, a thick volume containing a wealth of new geographical information and startling woodcut maps of Africa, India and Indonesia was published in Venice by the house of Giunti under the title Navigationi et Viaggi (Journeys and Navigations). The person who had assembled and edited this remarkable collection of travel narratives, journals, private letters and classified government reports remained anonymous.
Two more volumes appeared, in 1556 and 1559. They included, respectively, the most up-to-date information on what the Europeans referred to as the New World and on Asia. The combined publication of the three volumes—over two million words—constituted an unparalleled release of geographical data into the public domain. It was, to use an expression of our time, the biggest Wikileak of the Renaissance.
Who is this book for?
This book will be a valuable resource for those studying the history of geography and exploration. It also offers insights that may interest historians focused on 16th-century Venice.
“Unfortunately, di Robilant shies from his subject. Despite stressing the epochal significance of Ramusio’s work, di Robilant leaves the reader wondering what kind of book Navigations and Voyages is.” ~ review by Will Ramsay in Open Letters Review
The Author
Andrea di Robilant is an Italian journalist and writer. He has penned several books related to Italian history.
This Earthly Globe: A Venetian Geographer and the Quest to Map the World
By Andrea Di Robilant
Alfred A. Knopf
ISBN: 9780307597076
This book tells the story of Giovambattista Ramusio and how he created one of the first major works of world geography. First published in the middle of the 16th century, Ramusio’s work reveals much about how knowledge of far off lands came to Venice.
Excerpt:
In the autumn of 1550, a thick volume containing a wealth of new geographical information and startling woodcut maps of Africa, India and Indonesia was published in Venice by the house of Giunti under the title Navigationi et Viaggi (Journeys and Navigations). The person who had assembled and edited this remarkable collection of travel narratives, journals, private letters and classified government reports remained anonymous.
Two more volumes appeared, in 1556 and 1559. They included, respectively, the most up-to-date information on what the Europeans referred to as the New World and on Asia. The combined publication of the three volumes—over two million words—constituted an unparalleled release of geographical data into the public domain. It was, to use an expression of our time, the biggest Wikileak of the Renaissance.
Who is this book for?
This book will be a valuable resource for those studying the history of geography and exploration. It also offers insights that may interest historians focused on 16th-century Venice.
“Unfortunately, di Robilant shies from his subject. Despite stressing the epochal significance of Ramusio’s work, di Robilant leaves the reader wondering what kind of book Navigations and Voyages is.” ~ review by Will Ramsay in Open Letters Review
The Author
Andrea di Robilant is an Italian journalist and writer. He has penned several books related to Italian history.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.
You can buy this book on Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
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