The planisphere, made in 1502, is named after Alberto Cantino ‘orator’ of Ercole I d’Este in Portugal and is considered to be one of the oldest in representing even newly discovered lands: the planisphere shows, in fact, the coasts of Florida and Brazil, as well as highlighting the ‘raya’, i.e. the line dividing Portuguese and Spanish possessions defined by the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494. The map is presumably a copy from the Padrão Real (the official map of the Portuguese crown), updated with the latest geographical discoveries: Cantino managed to steal it to send it to the d’Este court despite Portuguese prohibitions on exporting maps abroad.

Collection: Images

Project: 9. Travels and travelers: economic, social and cultural connections.

Chronology: XVI

Scope: Secondary Education, Higher Education

Link: https://edl.beniculturali.it/beu/850013655

Resource type: Image

Format: Images

Source: Biblioteca Estense, Modena, Collezione Mappe e carte geografiche / Fondo Estense, Segnatura C.G.A.2

Language: Italian

Date: 1502

Owner: Manuela Ghizzoni (Modernalia)

Identifier: https://n2t.net/ark:/65666/v1/13655

Copyright: Creative Commons

Abstract: Planisphere commissioned in 1502 by Alberto Cantino, an 'orator' sent by Ercole I d'Este to Portugal