On the Origin and Evolution of the Nautical Chart

The main objective of this workshop is to gather researchers who have a keen interest in the historical study of ancient nautical charts, particularly those created during the Middle Ages and early modern period.

This will mark the fourth gathering in a series of meetings initiated in 2016 by the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisbon, which focuses on the history of nautical cartography.

While the initial two meetings concentrated on portolan charts, their scope was subsequently expanded to encompass a broader historical timeframe.

While still emphasizing the significance of exploring the origins and development of nautical cartography, this current workshop also intends to facilitate discussions on other pertinent topics as suggested by the proposed themes below:

• When, where, how, and why the earliest nautical charts were constructed, and how they evolved over time;
• The mutual influence between medieval and early modern charts and traditional maps of European and non-European origin;
• The production of medieval and early modern charts and atlases;
• The use of medieval and early modern nautical charts for planning and executing navigation;
• The role of multidisciplinary approaches to the research on old nautical charts: cartometric methods of analysis, numerical modeling, multispectral analysis, material characterization, carbon dating, etc.
• Any other subject related to the history of nautical cartography.

 

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