The Fra Mauro map was produced for the rulers of Venice and Portugal. Navigators and merchants probably supplied much of the information brought together in it. Small ship drawings depict vessels associated with different regions, offering clues to maritime knowledge carried over long distances. Its orientation differs from most modern maps, with south at the top. Reading the inscriptions helps establish that orientation and make sense of the geography.
Notable Point · 51:52-53:53
The Fra Mauro map as a maritime information network
The south-up Fra Mauro map probably combined navigators' and merchants' knowledge, including drawings of vessels from different regions.