The Nuremberg Chronicle

This is a page from The Nuremberg Chronicle, a book made around 1493 in Nuremberg, Germany, by Michael Wolgemut and others. It's essentially an encyclopedia telling the history of the world according to Christian beliefs. Printed during a time of immense shifts in power, religion, and global exploration, this book is a fascinating look into the mindset of 15th-century Europe. What strikes me most is the intersection of the known and unknown. Look at the map: recognizable continents sit alongside fantastical creatures, reflecting a world only partially revealed to Europeans. These images tell us much about their limited geographic knowledge, as well as their cultural and religious biases. The Chronicle helped shape how Europeans saw themselves in relation to the world, and how they legitimized their place in it. Ultimately, The Nuremberg Chronicle is a reminder of how our understanding of the world is always changing. We’re all trying to map our place in the world, both literally and figuratively, aren't we?