Waldseemüller - Globe Gore Map - Bell Library: Maps and Mapmakers

The Red Sea and Africa

On the Waldseemüller Globe (left), the Red Sea separating Africa and Arabia is oriented straighter north/south than it is in reality, again reflecting the influence of Ptolemy. (right).

Printed versions of Ptolemy’s world maps show the south part of Africa connected to southeast Asia, enclosing the Indian Ocean by land (right). In contrast, on his globe Waldseemüller depicted open water around Africa (left).

Under the Magnifying Glass
The Globe

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On the Waldseemüller Globe (left), the Red Sea separating Africa and Arabia is oriented straighter north/south than it is in reality, again reflecting the influence of Ptolemy. (right).

Printed versions of Ptolemy’s world maps show the south part of Africa connected to southeast Asia, enclosing the Indian Ocean by land (right). In contrast, on his globe Waldseemüller depicted open water around Africa (left).