medieval maps
Pre-Renaissance world charts
Medieval maps are cartographic works produced during the Middle Ages, roughly from the 5th to 15th centuries.
Unlike modern maps prioritizing geographic accuracy, these typically blended religious symbolism, classical knowledge, and practical navigation.
The term often evokes mappae mundi—ornate world maps placing Jerusalem at center—though portolan charts for Mediterranean sailing were remarkably precise.
The medieval map showed Paradise in the East and monsters at the edges of the known world.
- portolan chartsMedieval coastal navigation maps
- antique mapsOld geographical documents
- terra incognitaUnexplored or unknown region
- here be dragonsMedieval map warning phrase
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
parchment scroll · flat earth · edge of the world · maritime charts · sea monsters · compass rose · cardinal directions · mythical creatures · pigments · woodblock printing · pilgrimage routes · coastlines · rivers · crusades · trade routes · trade networks · explorers · kingdoms
- cartographymaps, world map, atlas, globes, cartographers
- Arab explorationcaravans, camels, dhows, oases, frankincense
- historical mapshistorical maps, atlas, ancient maps, atlases, antique maps
- medieval museumscastle tours, castle keeps, illuminated manuscripts, illuminated texts, Tower of London
- old mapsancient maps, vintage maps, atlas, portolan charts, printed maps
- Central European Mapsregional maps, political maps, population maps, war maps, military maps
medieval mapsGPS
Satellite-based location technology
satellite imagery · Google Maps · digital maps · satellite navigation · GPS navigation
medieval mapstopographic maps
Elevation-depicting terrain representations