Portulan C.G.A.5.b

In the 15th century, Spain and Portugal were the lands under whose flags the most expeditions into largely unexplored regions of the world were made. In the course of many expeditions and discoveries, the most renowned school of geography and cartography in Europe took shape in Spain. The maps, which originated during the time of the awakening Renaissance, belong among the most important geographical material of the entire Middle Ages. It is truly astounding, how true to detail and correct the Spanish and Portuguese cartographers could represent the regions of the world they studied, and completely without the modern technical aids of our time. The Portulan C.G.A.5.b is an outstanding example of the excellent work of medieval scholars.

What is a Portulan?

The term portulan or portolan originally indicated a book with nautical information such as landmarks, lighthouses, currents, and harbor conditions. According to historical sources, such sea-books already existed in the 13th century. Beginning in the 16th century, the term broadened and from then on comprised not only the written descriptions, but also the accompanying nautical maps, which were contained in books. Today, the term “portulan chart” indicate a very precise type of map. The map Portulan C.G.A.5.b is one of these special maps.

A Characteristic Map

Portulan C.G.A.5.b is a map that has distinguished itself from all the other cartographic material of its time. It has hardly any pictorial decoration, because it was not intended as decoration, but rather as an effective navigational aid. The most important trade cities of Barcelona, Valencia, Santiago de Compostela, Granada, Venice, and Genoa were emphasized in particular. The regions depicted are also recognizable by the depiction of their various flags. Similarly, fortresses, palaces, and other particularities that characterized the geographic regions and for which they were known are pictured.