The globe was made between 1492 and 1494 for the nuremberg city council. In the twentyfirst century the restored globe remained on display at nuremberg, and is the oldest surviving relic of its kind on earth. Its filled with mythical places, like the isle of st. Displaying the precolumbian image of the earth, the behaim globe is a cartographical masterpiece of german humanism in the renaissance age. His life and his globe pereira of the bibliotheca nacional for valuable informa tion, but none bearing upon behaim s scientific labours. The behaim family had immigrated to nuremberg because of religious persecution around 916.
This is the only glove which survived until the 21st century, represented the world known in the year 1492. He studied possibly under regiomontanus astronomy, navigation, and mathematics. It is constructed of a laminated linen ball in two halves, reinforced with wood and overlaid with a map painted by georg glockendon. It exists in only one manuscript copy painted by georg glockendon, held nuremberg, germany. The erdapfel or earth apple produced by martin behaim in 1492 is considered to be the oldest surviving terrestrial globe. The erdapfel is a terrestrial globe produced by martin behaim from 1490 1492. Behaim, a german, was a wellknown geographer, merchant, mariner, and. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. It shows the world according to ptolemy and other sources, before the discovery of america by columbus in the same year as the globe was made, 1492. How globes showed the earth was round way before 1492. The erdapfel is the oldest surviving terrestrial globe. Martin behaim, the father, had many businesses including some in venice, and.
Martin behaim, his life and his globe unknown binding 1908. Behaim s 1492 globe is consistent with christopher columbuss perspective of the earth. From the book life of christopher columbus by clements r. Martin behaim distinguished himself as a skilled mathematician and astronomer during the late fifteenth century. In 1492, while he was a nuremberg, behaim made the wellknown globe, probably with the scientific help of hartmann schedel, the nuremberg humanist. The map was drawn on paper, which was pasted on a layer of parchment around the globe. He is now best known for his erdapfel, the worlds oldest surviving globe, which he produced for the imperial. In 1492, while he was at nuremberg, behaim made the wellknown globe, probably with the scientific help of hartmann schedel, the nuremberg. The globe shows an enlarged eurasian continent and an empty ocean between europe and asia. Martin behaim project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Credit for its creation goes to martin behaim, a polymath of his day who knew a lot about geography and philosophyand was also skilled as a salesperson. The globe now resides in the rare book division there.
Worlds oldest surviving terrestrial globe geography realm. A rare piece of antiquity the worlds oldest globe dates. Martin behaim s erdapfel earth apple is the oldest surviving terrestrial globe. He served joao ii of portugal as an adviser in matters of navigation and participated in a voyage to west africa. The behaim globe can be described as having an apparent influence from ptolemys representation of africa and incorporates marco polos voyages as well as. One globe that intrigues many because of its age and uniqueness of construction is the erdapfel, german for earth apple. It was produced by german geographer and explorer martin behaim. Behold the erdapfel, the worlds oldest surviving globe. The globe shows the european continent dominating the majority of the globe, with a wide ocean separating europe from asia. Also called the behaim globe, the construction of the erdapfel is credited to the 15th century polymath martin behaim. Fine facsimile of the oldest surviving terrestrial globe. View the book martin behaim, his life and his globe 1908, available at the history archive now.
It doesnt show the americas on it, because columbus hadnt returned yet when it was made. Martin behaims globe 1492 detail from behaim s globe showing african rulers, redrawn in the facsimile below 1492 martin behaim ca. Martin behaim, his life and his globe 1908 history archive. The erdapfel, or earth apple in german, shows what people in the 1400s knew and thought of the world around them. The americas are not included, as columbus returned to spain no sooner than march 1493. Martin behaim october 6, 1459 july 29, 1507, german. Draw from book enciclopedia autodidactica published in 1954.
Martin behaim is at work making a globe of the world in nuremberg. Martin behaim, eastern hemisphere of his globe made in nuremberg in 1492. Martin behaim, the father, had many businesses including some in venice, and later. Concept and content were provided by the widely travelled nuremberg cloth merchant and seafarer martin behaim 14591507. Buy terrestrial globe, showing the indian ocean, made in nuremberg, 1492 see also 158163 and 158166 by martin behaim mug standard size. Bronze statue of behaim with sword and his terrestrial globe of 1492 erdapfel, on a richly decorated sandstone pedestal, with on the sides two bronze seated figures. Martin behaim 14591507 fashioned a globe depicting the known world in 1492.
The globe shows the world as it was known in 1492 when it was created by martin behaim. In the twentyfirst century the restored globe remained on display at nuremberg, and is the oldest surviving relic of it. His influence on the great discoverers of his time was formerly much overestimated. Handel trade, with caduceus, cornucopia and anchor. Bnk4y4 from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. Martin behaim s 1492 globe, or erdapfel earthapple, is our earliest surviving terrestrial globe. The oldest terrestrial globe erdapfel earth apple, made. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions.
Today it is one of the most attractive objects in the collections of the germanisches nationalmuseum in nuremberg. Illustration from geschichte des seefahrers ritter martin behaim by friedrich wilhlem ghillany, 1853. Brendan cape verde is misplaced by hundreds of miles. The overall paper size is inches and the image size is inches. Martin behaim s erdapfel is the oldest surviving globe in the world p. This is the worlds oldest surviving terrestrial globe.
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