CONTACT AND DISCOVERY 13This manuscript world map was printed and
distributed by Francisco Rosselli, and became
a standard view of the world in the 1490s. It
incorporated the best and most recent knowledge
of the day, which also explains its influence and
circulation. A manuscript map circulating in the
English court in 1502 directly reflects Martellus’
view of the world, suggesting that it reached far
beyond Florence. More importantly, Martin Behaim
used a Martellus map to create his terrestrial globe of
the world in 1492, which in turn guided Columbus as
he sought a route to Asia.
Martellus positioned Japan just 3,500 miles west
of Europe, and China 1,500 miles further. Behaim’s
globe replicated the geography of Martellus, and
further stimulated interest in Asia by describing Japan
as abundant in gold and spices. Behaim’s globe led
Columbus to believe that it would be easier to reach
Asia by sailing west than by navigating around Africa.
Moreover, Martellus’ map reinforced what Columbus
had learned from Paolo Toscanelli’s world map of
1474, which also placed Asia directly west of Europe.
All of this was incorrect, for none of these men were
aware of the western hemisphere. But, ironically, the
flaws in this geographical worldview led Columbus to
believe he might reach Asia by sailing west.
Martellus’ influence over geographical
knowledge—and Columbus’ worldview in
particular—makes him crucial to American history.
But recent research has amplified his importance
even further. The map scholar Chet Van Duzer used
new imaging technology to recover faded details from
a large and more comprehensive Martellus world map
housed at Yale University. These details demonstrate
that Martellus’ view of the world was the model for
large parts of Martin Waldseemüller’s 1507 map of
the world (page 16). Van Duzer’s research indicates
that Waldseemüller drew extensively from Martellus’
depiction of eastern Asia, southern Africa, and Japan,
even though, by 1507, he recognized the limits of
Martellus’ map of the New World. Martellus made
maps that mattered, and that encouraged navigators
to explore the Atlantic Ocean. Those voyages would
in turn render his worldview completely outdated.