The Cosmographia of Sebastian Münster

Describing the World in the Reformation

Matthew McLean, Professor Euan Cameron, Professor Bruce Gordon , Dr. Bridget Heal

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English

Routledge
28 September 2007

Historiography; General & world history; Early history: c 500 to c 1450&1500

Series: St Andrews Studies in Reformation History

Sebastian MÃ¼nster's Cosmographia was an immensely influential book that attempted to describe the entire world across all of human history and analyse its constituent elements of geography, history, ethnography, zoology and botany. First published in 1544 it went through thirty-five editions and was published in five languages, making it one of the most important books of the Reformation period.

Beginning with a biographical study of Sebastian MÃ¼nster, his life and the range of his scholarly work, this book then moves on to discuss the genre of cosmography. The bulk of the book, however, deals with the Cosmographia itself, offering a close reading of the 1550 Latin edition (the last and definitive edition worked upon by MÃ¼nster). By analysing the contents of the Cosmographia it attempts to recreate how the world of the sixteenth century appeared to a scholar living in Basel, and understand what he saw and heard.

Through this examination of MÃ¼nster, his publications and scholarly networks, the conflicts and continuities between medieval scholarly traditions and the widening horizons of the sixteenth century are explored and revealed. Of interest to scholars of humanist culture, the Reformation and book history, this ambitious work throws into relief previously overlooked aspects of the intellectual and religious culture of the time.

By: Matthew McLean
Series edited by: Professor Euan Cameron, Professor Bruce Gordon, Dr. Bridget Heal, Professor Roger A. Mason
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: New edition
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 22mm
Weight: 635g
ISBN: 9780754658436
ISBN 10: 0754658430
Series: St Andrews Studies in Reformation History
Pages: 392
Publication Date: 28 September 2007
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Matthew McLean is a research fellow at the University of St Andrews, UK.

Reviews for The Cosmographia of Sebastian Münster: Describing the World in the Reformation

’In this book, his first, Matthew McLean demonstrates great depth of research, a mind capable of lateral thinking and the ability to capture the interest of his reader... this book delivers a well researched examination of the context and creation of Sebastian MÃ¼nster's Cosmographia.’ Rare Books Newsletter ’...McLean has achieve a Herculean task in analysing one of the greatest publishing enterprises of the sixteenth century.’ The Library ’... a thoughtful and probing work, full of interesting asides and arresting turns of phrase...’ Bulletin of the German Historical Institute ’To sum up, this is a major study of one of the most outstanding works of Renaissance Europe that should be read by historians of science and technology, and by all those interested in the culture of this exciting time.’ Metascience ’The reader of McLean’s work will certainly feel his knowledge and understanding of early modern humanist scholarship enhanced; it is a worthy contribution to what is surely one of the most intellectually stimulating and attractively produced series on the market.’ Sixteenth Century Journal