Study of the documentary sources of the 1375 Catalan Atlas. From its creation until today

Abstract

The world map, known as the Catalan Atlas, dated in 1375, was a commissioned to the Cresques family of Palma de Mallorca by the Catalan dynasty as a present for the king of France Charles V (as both monarchies were related). It was deposited at the Bibliothèque Royale of France where it is still conserved today. Its uniqueness has been the reason for dedicating this study. Its documentary impact was uneven and limited during the first centuries. However, by the end of eighteenth century, the Atlas started to be more widely studied thanks to the scholars of that period. Several theories have appeared since then, and were modified slowly, continuously until today, especially those issues related to its

creation, authorship and dating. The access to several archives sources has been crucial in the current knowledge of the “Catalan Atlas”.

Keywords: “Catalan Atlas”, Cresques Abraham, medieval Catalan cartography.