MAPS, A WORLD OF KNOWLEDGE
Detail of plate 27, Willem Janszoon Blaeu’s Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Geographica ac Hydrographica Tabula, from his Theatrum orbis terrarum, sive, Atlas Novus
(Amsterdam: Willem Janszoon Blaeu, 1635), with borders illustrating the four elements, seven planets, four seasons, and Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Courtesy of
the Department of Special Collections, Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Gift of Dr. Seymour Schwartz (CA 15509 plate 5).
The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment brought a strong
important role cartography had in the formation of modern states,
scientific component into maps, and marginalia in cartography were
as a way of controlling the territory, as a strategic tool for war, and
also influenced by experimentation and the advancement of human
as a symbolic element to boast the power of a nation, is reflected in
knowledge of the world. The ideal of spreading information to
the titles, which many times announce that the map is the “newest
large numbers of people led to the expansion of printed material—
and most accurate.”
including maps—that incorporated the latest scientific information.
Not only were the erudite and political interests of cartography
The demand for cartographic material increased, and mapmakers
compatible with the artistic beauty of illustrations, they also had
emphasized scientific (or pseudo-scientific) information, particularly
a strong influence on the subjects chosen for marginalia. This
in the borders, as a marketing tool to attract customers interested
combination was exemplified by one of the mapmaking and
in wall maps for display as well as functional items. Moreover, the
publishing businesses most inclined to the artistic ornament, that
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