Abraham Ortelius' World Map

Abraham Ortelius' World Map, created in 1595, is one of the earliest attempts to depict the entire known world on a single sheet. It reflects the geographic knowledge of the late 16th century, combining various regional maps into a unified view. The map features coastlines, landmasses, and some new discoveries from explorers like Magellan. It also includes decorative elements like illustrations and sea monsters, showcasing the blend of science and art typical of the period. As a pioneering world map, it helped standardize geographic understanding and influenced future cartography.