Fra Mauro Map

The map appeared largely due to the information of the Venetian traveler and merchant Marco Polo (from the “Book on the Diversity of the World” - this is obvious from the map legends in China and East Asia and from the signatures to the cities) and did not have an equal breadth of geographical outlook and real ideas about The earth. For epigones, this map, like the Catalan Atlas of the World of 1375 , served as an important guide to the compilation of geographical maps of Asia and became a milestone in the history of cartography ^[4] .

Although the map was compiled on the basis of materials that were not yet known to scientists for certain, undoubtedly, Ptolemy’s materials were used (for example, the Indian Ocean , referred to on this map as the “Indian Sea” ^[4] , is very correctly shown), information from eastern merchants, Russian sources and notes European travelers), which increases its already high significance ^[3] . The informants were probably Russians, possibly “guests-Sourozhans”, merchants who traded in Italian trading posts in the Northern Black Sea region (Russian guests traded in the 14th – 15th centuries from Surozh and Tana with Moscow, and in search of those highly valued in the West and East hunting birds reached Pechora ) ^[4] .

The theme of the sources that served as the compilation of this cosmography, Fra Mauro devoted an explanation, placed in the place where traditionally authoritative geographers drew the border of Europe and Asia - in the bend of Tanais . The author reports (translation is abridged) ^{[3] [7]} :

Sheets XL , XLVI :

This work was made for Serenissima and not as perfect as we would like. For it is impossible without the Higher Providence to the human mind to create a cosmography or image of the ecumenical ... 〈...〉 I did not follow Ptolemy both in terms of measures of longitude and latitude, as well as in structure ... 〈...〉 Regarding myself, I will give an answer that I aspired in my work to reinforce experience in land surveying by spending many years on it and communicating with people who are trustworthy, who have visited those countries and have seen everything with their own eyes, which I demonstrate here.

Sheet XXXIV :

On the question of the separation of lands, that is, Africa from Asia and Asia from Europe , one has to admit that cosmographs and historiographers are different in opinions ... I will briefly say about their judgments ... and I suggest that scientists seek the truth. Some follow the ancient authors - the orator Messale , who was engaged in the historiography of the heirs of Augustus ; Pomponii Mele , who followed the authorities who believed that Asia was separated from Africa by the Nile , and Tanais separated Europe from Asia. Others referred to Ptolemy, who claimed that the Arabian mountains , starting from Nubia and stretching along Abyssinia and further beyond meridional Ethiopia, are the border of Africa.

Our contemporary scientists believe that the division of Africa by a mountain range and the Nile River is wrong, because it harms Africa, and the border should be drawn between Asia and Africa along the Black Sea or the Arabian Gulf . They, modern ( Latin moderni ) scientists, believe that the Edil River, which flows into the Caspian Sea , and which flows much more directly than Tanais to the North, is much better suited for the separation of Europe and Asia. The last statement is correct and reasonable ... 〈...〉 and I remind the viewer that it is more correct to follow the authority, which is the most reliable.

Sheets XXXIX , XL , XLV , XLVI :

As for the amount of land in the world, there is no unequivocal opinion between cosmographs on this subject, and I, in turn, will refrain from my opinion here. But I in all regions, even the smallest, put the letter P (a sign of a province) for convenience in designating the various lands and peoples inhabiting them ...

If anyone does not find here the names of any provinces that Ptolemy has (he has 94 of them), then I will say that I couldn’t put everything on the map. Neither use its names, because these names have changed at this time ... 〈...〉

As for the question about the circumference of the earth’s circle, there are various opinions and statements that are not supported by experienced knowledge ... and in this case I rely on the Wisdom of the Lord and the measure of His Providence, for only He alone knows everything exactly.

Original text (Italian)

XL , XLVI :

Questa opera, fata a contemplation de questa illustrissima signoria, non ha in sì quel compimento che la doveria, perché certo non è possibile a l'intellecto human senza qualche superna demostration verificar in tuto questa cosmographia over mapamundi, de la qual se può haver qualche noticia più a degustation cha a supplimento del desiderio. Unde se algun contradirà a questa perché non ho seguito Claudio Tolomeo, sì ne la forma come etiam ne le sue mesure per longeça e perlargeça, non vogli più curiosamente defenderlo de quel che lui proprio non se defende, el qual nel secondo libro dit capo che quele parte de le qual se ne ha continua pratica se ne può parlar corretamente, ma de quele che non sono cussì frequentade non pensi algun se ne possi parlar cussì correctamente. Però intendando lui non haver possudo in tuto verificar la sua cosmographia, sì per la cossa longa e difficile e per la vita brieve e l'experimento fallace, resta che'l conciede che cum longença de tempo tal opera se possi meglio descriver over haverne più certa noticia de quel habuto lui. Per tanto dico che io nel tempo mio ho solicitado verificar 1a scriptura cum la experientia, investigando per molti anni e praticando cum persone degne de fede, le qual hano veduto ad ochio quelo che qui suso fedelmente demostro

XXXIV :

Circa la division de la terra, çoè de la affrica da l'asia e similiter de la europa da l'asia, ne trovo apresso cosmographi et istoriographi diverse opinion de le qual se poria parlar diffusamente, ma per esser materia tediosa a demorar in questa controversia farò qui un poco de nota de le opinion de questi e quelo se de 'tignir lasserò eleçer ai prudenti. Alguni che siegue li antichi, di quali son Messala orator che scrive la progenie de Otavian Augusto e Pomponio Mela e queli che'l siegue, vuol che'l nilo divida l'asia da l'affrica, et thanai la europa. Alguni dice che Tolomeo vuol che quela costa de monti de arabia, che sono da ladi de nubia e tirano per abassia e oltra quela ethyopia australia, faça la division de l'affrica.

Alguni çoè i autori moderni vedando che questa division de l'affrica o per el fiume nilo o per queli monti fa l'affrica tropo picola, fa altra division e dice che'l mar rosso over sino arabico divide questa affrica. Item vedando che'l fiume edil el qual intra nel mar chaspio e vien de più al dreto de verso tramontana cha'l fiume thanai, dicono che questo fiume divide meglio la europa da l'asia, e questa ultima opinion par che sia aperta et più manifesta et habi men bisogno de linea imaginaria, chome par che voiano queli che fano le prime division. Unde conforto quele che vedeno questa opera che non vogli tropo occuparse in desputar questa division non essendo molto necessaria ma tegna quelo li par più rasonevole e approbabile e quanto a l'ochio e quanto a l'intelleto, non de men io ricordo esser laudevele a la autorità deli più auten [ti] ci

XXXIX , XL , XLV , XLVI :

Del numero de le provincie del mondo non trovi mai algun cosmographo acordarse e questo perché tuti hano abuto diversa information e chi più e chi mancho. Perhò non dico qui el parer mio, ho però notado quasi per tuto etiam ne i luogi minimi uno p in luogo de provincia solo per dar forma ad descriver de le region e diversità de populi. Ma a queli che non li piace tal nota oltra quele che son notade da Tolomeo in luogo de provincie e'l resto intendi over tal populi over tal region, e se qui non son posti tuti queli nomi de le provincie che mete Tolomeo le qual secondo lui sono 94, intendi che nì tuto ho possudo meter nì anche servar hi suo propri nomi che al presente sono cambiati, credo però soto altri nomi haver posto tute le sue et ancora algune altre che a lui non sono sta 'note.

Similiter de questa circumferentia tro [v] i varie opinion, perhò non è possibile verificarla benché el se dica che la sia 22.500 over 24.000 over più over manco, secundo diversa consideration over opinion ch'è non molto autentica per non esser experimentada. E benché in diversi tempi alguni habiano navigato ne le parte austral e de septentrion, non di men non hano habuto tempo de mesurar over pur considerar questa distantia perché el suo navegar è stato casual e non determinato a tal navigation. Perhò a l'Eterno Dio lasso la mesura de la sua opera la qual lui solo intende a ponto, non de men de questa materia se ne parlerà nel luogo debito

- Fra Mauro

Climatic zones are conveyed by all the above types of images of mountains, and the absence of green color (brown mountains) indicates their impassability ^[8] . The borders of various lands and peoples of Fra Mauro are peculiar “forest belts”, about which the author says: “Please note that throughout the map there are green icons and groups of trees, their purpose is to mark the borders of various provinces” ^[4]

The legend of the 1459 map of Fra Mauro about the South Russian steppes says ^[9] :

Note that Kumania was once a very large province and extended a great distance within its borders. But now these lands are deserted and are not of great interest. There is no more population here than in Hungary .

Original text (Italian)

Nota che la chumania soleva esser grandissima provincia e dilatava molto i suo confini, ma hora sono sì consumpti che de lor non se ne fa tropo conto, de questi populi ne sono molti per l'ongaria

- Map of Fra Mauro , sheet XXXIV

Map legend of the capital of the Byzantine Empire ^[10] :

The noblest city of Constantinople , one of the oldest on this map, having received its name from Constantine, became the capital of the Romey Empire.

The map contains the country of Amazonia , which medieval cartographers placed on the Middle Volga ^[11] , approximately where Sviyaga flows into the Volga at present ^[12] .

Russia

Russian lands on the map are divided into five regions ^[13] :

• “Rossa Rossa” ( Red Russia , lat. Rossia Rossa ) - southern and southwestern Russia;
• "Russia", "Europe" ( lat. Evropa Rossia ) - north-western lands;
• "Russia Sarmatia or Russia in Europe" ( lat. Sarmatia over Rossia in Evropa ) - northern lands;
• “Russia Bianca, Sarmatia or Russia in Asia” ( White Russia , Latin Rossia Biancha, Sarmatia over Rossia in Asia , Great Russia ) - Eastern;
• "Russia Negra" ( Black Russia , lat. Rossia Negra ) central and northeastern Russia .

The compiler of the map, Fra Mauro, in a legend placed under the title “Russia White”, gives the following commentary on the color definitions of various Russia ^[12] :

This division of [country] into White, Black, and Red Russia has no other explanation than the fact that these parts of Russia are referred to as follows. White Russia got its name from the [nearby] White Sea , while the other part - Black Russia is called so from the Black River, and Red Russia is named after the name of the Red River. Tatars also call the white sea "Akteniz", the black river "Karasu", and the red river is called "Kozusu".

Original text (Italian)

Questa distincion che fi fata de rossia biancha, negra e rossa non ha altra cason cha questa, çoè quela parte de rossia che è de qua dal mar biancho se chiama biancha, quela ch'è de là dal fiume negro se chiama negra e quela ch 'è de là dal fiume rosso se chiama rossa. E tartari chiamano mar biancho hactenis, flumen negro carasu, flumen rosso cozusu

- Map of Fra Mauro , sheet XXXIX

A widespread legend located in the Negra Russia region, to the right of the name “Europe”, indicates that this region is the core of the Russian lands ^[12] :

This huge region, called Russia or Sarmatia, having a border in the east along the White Sea, borders the German Sea in the west, extends to the cities of Saray and Kumania in the south, and to the region of Permia in the north. Huge rivers flow along it, the largest of which is Edil , which is not inferior in size to the Nile. Also in this land there are great swamps on which people are not able to be due to the climate that is painful there.

Original text (Italian)

Questa grandissima provincia dita rossia over sarmatia confina da levante cum el mar biancho, da ponente cum el mar d'alemagna, da ostro cum saray e cum la chumania, e da tramontana cum permia et ha in sì fiumi grandissimi maxime edil, el qual non non è inferior del nilo. Item in questa provincia son paludi grandissimi per li qual questi populi non può esser lieçiermente danificadi da suo inimici

- Map of Fra Mauro , sheet XXXIV

To the west of the Tangut region is the White Sea (possibly Lake Baikal), near which there is a comment: "This sea of ​​tartars is called " Actenis " , which means" White Sea ", in winter it is covered with ice." There is a legend on the western shore of the Siberian White Sea, which says that the eastern border of Russia passes here: “Great Russia originates here and extends to Scandinavia” ^[12] .

Features

It should be noted that before the appearance of this masterpiece of medieval cartography on European maps, we do not see roads . At Fra Mauro, roads are laid and connect the regions and cities of Russia, which is another argument in favor of the fact that he scooped up information about Muscovy from travelers who visited there ^[4] .

The lagging of the graphic situation from the real political, socio-economic, etc. situation on Western European maps in relation to the regions of Eastern Europe is estimated, as a rule, at 30-50 years ^[14] . This world map represents the situation at least not earlier than 1405 ^[12] .

•   The medal decided to be minted in honor of the cartographer by the Republic of Venice on the occasion of the completion of work on the famous map. The inscription on the obverse reads: “Fra Mauro, an incomparable cosmograph” ^[2] ( Latin Frater Maurus S. Michaelis Moranensis de Venetiis ordinis Camaldulensis chosmographus incomparabilis ).

•   1806 High Resolution Copy Card

• Pachkalov A.V. Medieval cities of the Lower Volga and Northern Caucasus. M., 2018.
• Fomenko I.K. , ShcherbakovaE.I. The Western Trail of the Kazan Dragon (Rus.) = The Western Trail of the “Kazan Dragon” // The Golden Horde Civilization: Journal. - Kazan : Shigabutdin Marjani Institute of History, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan , 2017. - No. 10 . - S. 378-389 . - ISBN UDC 929.6 + 347.189.7. - ISSN 2409-0875 2308-1856, 2409-0875 . Archived on April 10, 2019.
• Fomenko I.K. The image of the world on ancient portolans. Black Sea coast. The end of the XIII - XVII century. / Rec. A. L. Ponomarev , R. M. Shukurov . - 2nd, scientific edition, revised and supplemented. - M .: Publishing house "Indrik", 2011. - S. 394-395. - 424 p. - ISBN 978-5-91674-145-2 , UDC 94.04 / 14, LBC 63.3 (0) 4.
• Fomenko I. K. Where did Samara come from ... (Russian) // Homeland : Journal / Chapters. ed. Yu. A. Borisyonok . - Moscow: Pravda , 2012. - No. 12 . - S. 78-82 . - ISSN 0235-7089 .   - OTRS.
• Fomenko I.K. The first mention of “Samara” in Western European medieval sources (Russian) // Middle Volga region in the context of medieval Russian history: at the crossroads of cultures (end of the 13th-16th centuries): Materials of a scientific-practical conference / Editorial: D A. Stashenkov (ed.), A.F. Kochkina, L.V. Kuznetsova. - Samara : "Etching." Ministry of Culture of the Samara Region, Samara Regional Museum of History and Local Lore named after P.V. Alabin , 2012. - P. 9-23 . - ISBN 978-5-473-00859-3 , BBK T3 (2P354.2) 43ya431 (2P), T3 (2P354.2) 44ya431 (2P), T4 (2) 431.99 Volga.ya431 (2P).   - OTRS.

• List of inscriptions on the map of Fra Mauro on the website of the catalog of the Marchian Library