Page 319 - Eye of the beholder

“Magni Mogolis Imperium”:
An Early Manuscript Map of India
Maps have been sought after as collectibles for over a a a a a a a a a a a a a century now An antique map may not provide accurate directions but it it it is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a piece of of heritage and and more importantly tells a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a story It exemplifies human endeavour the the the spirit of of of adventure and and the the the scientific aspirations of of the the the the times times in in in in in which it it was created In recent times times antique maps have fetched record prices at at at auctions and and and and continue to increase in in in in in value While in in in in in the the the past the the the the demand has been mostly for maps maps maps of of of of European countries and and and and some 18th- and and and and 19th- century maps maps maps of of of of America at at the the the time of of of of colonization more recently maps maps maps of of of of the the the Indian subcontinent have fast gained in in in popularity Cartography as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a science and and an an an art art has always been the the the the forte of of the the the the Western world Developments in in in in in map-making were fuelled by the the the the the the the spirit of of of of discovery and and and the the the the the the the increase in in in in in in in in in seafaring of of of the the the the the the 14th and and and and 15th centuries with the the the the the the rise of of of the the the the the the powerful naval powers in in in in in in in in in the the the the the West especially in in in in in in in in in Spain Portugal Holland and and and and and Britain This was also a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a time when the the the old taboos and and and and and and and inhibitions against sea travel began to to be be questioned and and and and and and and abandoned The quest quest for for new lands and and and and and for for secure trade routes to to to the the the the East especially to to India
necessitated updated maps that incorporated the the the fresh discoveries of the the the age Merchant guilds were formed in in many European countries countries patronized and supported by the the rulers to to establish establish trade relationships with newly discovered countries countries In most cases these guilds employed or or patronized master cartographers who established workshops to to produce produce new maps The map map map titled “Magni Mogolis Imperium” which is is is is is the the subject of of of discussion here is is is is is one one such produced by an eminent Dutch mapmaker It is is is one one of of of the the earliest known maps of of of India
The Dutch Dutch emerged as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a major naval power by the the the the the the end of of of the the the the the the 16th century and the the the the the the Dutch Dutch East India
Company Company was set up in in 1602 Around the the the the the year 1633 the the the the the Company Company appointed Willem Janzsoon Blaeu Blaeu (1571–1638) as as as as its official cartographer Blaeu Blaeu was born in in in in in Holland near Alkmaar into a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a family o of fishmongers but his his interests lay elsewhere After his his father’s death he he he he he trained under the the renowned Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe between 1594 and and and 1596 and and and qualified as as as an an an an an instrument and and and globe maker By By 1599 Blaeu Blaeu was was back in in in in in in in Amsterdam where he he he he founded his his own business business of of making maps and and globes By By the time of of his his his appointment Blaeu’s Blaeu’s business business was was was thriving and and he he he he had established himself as as as as as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a reputed mapmaker Blaeu’s Blaeu’s magnum opus was was his his publication of of the the the World Atlas Atlas Atlas Atlas Atlas Atlas Novus (also known as as as as as as as as Atlas Atlas Atlas Major) in 1635 of of which the the the the the the “Magni Mogolis Imperium” was was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a part This was was was the the the the the the time when Amsterdam was was was one of of of the the the the the the the wealthiest trading cities in in in Europe the the the the the the the hub of of of the the the the the the the Dutch East India
Company and and the the the the the the the centre of of of of of the the the the the the the banking and and diamond trade The Atlas Novus contained maps of of of almost all the the the the known regions of of of the the the the world including India
September 2008
Anirban Sadhu
1 opposite
A picture of the complete “Magni Mogolis Imperium” 1634–38 mounted on a a a frame behind UV-proof glass The map is hand painted with vegetable dyes 58 x 50 cm An Early Manuscript Map 63 313
Final Anirban Sadhu
indd 63 9/18/2008
4:01:37 PM