Knowledge of the life of the maker of a map is important in understanding its intellectual content. When did the mapmaker live? In what country? What is his or her educational, political and religious background?

In the case of Olaus Magnus, religion is important. If Olaus had not been a Catholic he would never have traveled to Rome and discovered how little southern Europeans knew about Scandinavia. He would not have found himself unable to return to Sweden. But that is getting ahead of the story.