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Details of Terrestrial Globe

Like his predecessor Mercator, Demongenet labels North America “baccalea” (or "the land of cod," an important feature to would-be explorers), and “Hispania mayor,” while South America appears as simply “America.”

Demongenet also includes a northern oceanic passage connecting the Atlantic and Pacific, which promised to take ships by an easy route to the riches of Cathay (or China) to the west. This unrealistic convention, when repeated by cartographers after Demongenet, would fire the imagination of European traders for generations.

Demongenet departs from earlier practice by referring to the Tropic of Cancer as “TROPICVS ÆSTIVVS” (the Spring Tropic), and the Tropic of Capricorn as “TROPICVS HYBERNVS” (the Winter Tropic).

CHSI Inv. Number 1997-1-2060a, 1997-1-2060b,
Date: circa 1552
François DeMongenet

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