When was juan de la cosa born

The coastline is covered with the names of cities and ports written in red and black, with red reserved for the most important. The Atlantic coast of Africa is accurately depicted thanks to the nautical charts produced by Portuguese navigators. The depiction of the continent of Asia , which was far less well known, is based on Ptolemaic theories, myths and legends, and the chronicles of Italian explorers such as Marco Polo.

Europe, Africa, and Asia are covered with illustrations alluding not only to geographical features, but to political, economic, and religious ones too.

The Tower of Babylon is shown as a large tower shaped like a minaret, reminiscent of depictions of the Tower of Babel. The imprisonment of Gog and Magog behind the Caspian Mountains. The depiction of this scene combines biblical and mythical elements: the 2 main characters appear in the Old Testament, but the story of their imprisonment behind the Caspian Mountains by Alexander the Great is a medieval legend.

Prester John also features in Africa, near what is now Ethiopia. The legend of Prester John, who was said to be a Christian ruler in the Indies whose empire was filled with wonders, was very popular during the Middle Ages. Amerigo Vespucci — Italian merchant and explorer. Spanish mariner and cartographer. He travelled on Columbus' second Subjects: History — Early Modern History to View all related items in Oxford Reference ». Search for: 'Juan de la Cosa' in Oxford Reference ».

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It is the oldest known European cartographic representation of the New World. Of special interest is the outline of Cuba, which Christopher Columbus never believed to be an island Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general Europe She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain.

Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain unde