Western Mediterranean in the Catalan Atlas (1375)

This map is a copy made in 1959 from the Catalan Atlas. More specifically, it is the first of four maps, popularly known as Finisterre.

The Catalan Atlas was an atlas attributed to Cresques Abraham and dated around 1375. The atlas consisted of seven sheets, four of which were dedicated to mapping the known world. Among other features, this map shows the typical course lines used in the late Middle Ages on all maps used by sailors. These lines, if followed with a compass at sea, made it easy to navigate between two points.

This sheet, known as Finisterre, depicts the western Mediterranean, along with much of the Maghreb and Western Europe. The importance of the coastlines and their use by sailors can be seen in the high density of ports shown and the few inland cities depicted.

The map is a good representation of the world, based on European knowledge and concepts of the 14th century.

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