1
00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:08,860
How can the globe be properly
represented on a flat world map?
2
00:00:09,078 --> 00:00:12,055
This was an unsolved problem
in the 16th century,
3
00:00:12,097 --> 00:00:16,000
that the cartographer Gerardus
Mercator decided to work on.
4
00:00:17,276 --> 00:00:19,688
At this time, maps and globes
5
00:00:19,735 --> 00:00:24,472
became popular reference works
among the wealthy middle class.
6
00:00:24,712 --> 00:00:29,130
The great demand for them brought
Gerardus Mercator prestige and wealth.
7
00:00:29,500 --> 00:00:33,763
The Flemish man lived
in Duisburg since 1552,
8
00:00:33,819 --> 00:00:39,807
and devoted himself to making maps
and globes as precise as possible.
9
00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,765
Then Gerardus Mercator became
famous as the result of a brilliant idea:
10
00:00:44,804 --> 00:00:47,727
Countless calculations
and tests were needed
11
00:00:47,771 --> 00:00:52,537
before he gets the basic idea of
his projection could actually implement.
12
00:00:53,500 --> 00:00:58,030
He put paper, in the form
of a cylinder, around the globe.
13
00:00:59,716 --> 00:01:02,918
The cylinder touches
the earth at the equator.
14
00:01:03,798 --> 00:01:07,159
From an imaginary projection point
in the centre of the earth,
15
00:01:07,181 --> 00:01:11,000
all points are plotted
from the ball to the cylinder.
16
00:01:12,713 --> 00:01:17,699
After unrolling it, an accurate map
of the surface of the earth is made,
17
00:01:17,730 --> 00:01:22,000
because longitudes and latitudes
are placed at right angles to each other.
18
00:01:22,500 --> 00:01:25,795
Proportions however are distorted.
19
00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,243
Greenland seems almost as big as Africa.
20
00:01:30,596 --> 00:01:33,954
In 1569, Gerardus Mercator
21
00:01:33,984 --> 00:01:37,324
presented his world map
to the public for the first time.
22
00:01:37,645 --> 00:01:45,196
The 1.34 m by 2.12 m map
is entitled "for maritime use".
23
00:01:45,500 --> 00:01:50,912
It was later divided into 20 single sheets
and published in a book,
24
00:01:50,942 --> 00:01:54,757
eagerly awaited by the sea captains
across the world.