In February 2016 the astronaut Tim Peake tweeted the view of Earth from the International Space Station accompanied by an image of a world map. The map he chose was unique: it was the largest surviving medieval mappa mundi, made around 1300, and kept since its creation in Hereford Cathedral (www.themappamundi.co.uk). The tweet was apt: not only did the medieval map look remarkably similar to Earth as seen from outer space, the juxtaposition of the two evoked centuries of human interest in the world. But what is the Hereford map, and how has it earned celebrity status?
The Hereford map shows the parts of the world known to its makers at the time of its creation in 1300: Asia (roughly as far as India), Africa (to Ethiopia) and Europe. Unlike modern north-oriented maps, it is oriented to the east, which means that Asia occupies its top half.
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