The Red Sea and Africa

Africa and the Red Sea Asia and Japan The New Lands

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).
Wald's Africa Ptolemy's Africa

Young Navigator link

magnifying glassUnder the Magnifying Glass

The Globe

East 3 gores detail
Near East Detail
Far East Detail
Amercia detail

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