Erikson, Eskimos & Columbus: Medieval European Knowledge of America

Rating:
Summary: A Necessary and Important Book...
Review: Mr. Enterline has written an important book, a book that looks at the maps themselves and the evidence therein. This is a refreshing change from the baseless conjectures, theories, and "trendy" interpretations that have sometimes siezed hold of the history of cartography. Enterline's interpretations will open up new debate on these early maps of the arctic regions, but it is this kind of debate that is sorely needed. Most important, however, is that Enterline has shown a true understanding of the context in which early maps were made, and how sources (earlier maps, explorers' reports, etc.) were integrated in a complex and agglutinative manner, a manner that we, as historians, must now "de-code". This book is a fine place to begin that process...

Rating:
Summary: A Necessary and Important Book...
Review: Mr. Enterline has written an important book, a book that looks at the maps themselves and the evidence therein. This is a refreshing change from the baseless conjectures, theories, and "trendy" interpretations that have sometimes siezed hold of the history of cartography. Enterline's interpretations will open up new debate on these early maps of the arctic regions, but it is this kind of debate that is sorely needed. Most important, however, is that Enterline has shown a true understanding of the context in which early maps were made, and how sources (earlier maps, explorers' reports, etc.) were integrated in a complex and agglutinative manner, a manner that we, as historians, must now "de-code". This book is a fine place to begin that process...