‘Universal Earth’

J. de Vaulx, Les Premières oeuvres..., Le Havre, 1584 BNF Ms Français 9175

Jean-Marc Besse (Université Paris-1-Panthéon-Sorbonne)
Chair: Nick Millea (Bodleian Library)

During this conference, I would like to focus on the origins of the "modern era" of European geographical knowledge. The main objective of my presentation will be to show how, during the 16th century, the Earth was perceived, interpreted, conceived, and experienced as a surface to be explored (travel) but also to be shaped and expanded (territory), and as a horizon toward which to journey (landscape). I will attempt to analyze the forms of this imagination of geographical space, which viewed the Earth as a surface of indefinite extent, which could be traveled in all directions.