Browse Exhibits (1 total)

Where does one draw the borders of Europe? How do you define what a European is? 

While the European powers gradually expanded their influence across the globe over the course of a few centuries, they were working on answering some of these very questions. Through the use of maps, Europeans were able to define both themselves, and the “other.” 

Our exhibit explores three key aspects of creating and defining Europe. 

First, we discuss Europe’s efforts to portray itself as geographically important, especially as European cartography transitioned from medieval-era conceptions to Mercator’s projection of the world. Second, we explore how the eastern and northern borders were newly defined on maps and in atlases. As the eastern border of Europe changed over the course of the 16th and 17th centuries, exactly who was defined as a “European” changed as well. The northern border expanded so that Scandinavia was newly considered a part of Europe in the 15th century. Third, we examine the ways in which Europeans utilized new cartographic ideas embodied by the portolan chart to define the Mediterranean Sea and Europe’s borders.

15th Century, 16th century, 17th century, Europe, Forests, mappamundi, Mediterranean, Mercator, portolan chart, rhumb lines, Sweden, T-O map, Wind roses