Geography (Geographicae Enarrationis Libri Octo) (1525) - Page 17

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IN WHAT WAY GEOGRAPHY DIFFERS FROM CHOROGRAPHY.

CHAPTER I.

An ornamental drop cap 'G' contains a diagram of a compass or navigational instrument with a scale from 1 to 8.

GEography is an imitation of a picture of the whole of the known part of the earth, together with those things which are universally attached to it. It differs, however, from Chorography, for the latter cuts up places by parts and sets each one and every one apart by itself, and describes almost all of them, even those most minute things which we can detect, such as ports, villages, peoples, and also the diversions of the principal rivers and similar things. But it is the property of Geography to show the known earth, one and continuous, how it behaves in nature and position, and it concerns itself only with descriptions that are altogether detectable, such as of gulfs and great cities, also of peoples and rivers, and also about those things which are more significant according to the nature of each. Furthermore, the end of Chorography contains a connection of the particular, as if someone were to imitate only an ear or an eye. But that of Geography is a contemplation of the whole, proportional to those who describe an entire head. For since to all images that are supposed, parts must necessarily and first of all be adapted, and also those which are to receive the pictures ought to be commensurated with sufficient removal of the eyes by distances, whether that which is painted be perfect or particular, so that everything may be perceived sensibly, it follows reasonably and usefully that the most minute properties of Chorography are attributed to Geography, or rather the regions themselves, with those things which are universally adjacent to them. Since also the primary parts of the world, namely the sites of regions, are rightly coordinated both in size and measurement, yet among these themselves, how they behave, there are very many differences.

Chorography concerns itself for the most part more about quality than about quantity, for it everywhere takes care of quality, but not so much of the commensuration of positions. Geography, however, is concerned more with quantity than with quality, since in all things it diligently keeps the ratio of the proportion of distances, but it truly observes similarity up to the circumscriptions of the largest parts, and according to the figure itself, as if from whence the former needs a picture of places, and no one will rightly exercise it unless he is a man skilled in painting, but the latter by no means does, for even through thin lines and only notations, it can show positions and universal figurations. Therefore, the former by no means needs a mathematical institute, but for the latter, that part is especially required. For it is necessary to consider both the figure and size of the whole earth, and also its position in relation to the sky, by which the part of it that is known can be recounted, how great it is, and what kind it is. Furthermore, also its individual places, under which parallels of the celestial sphere they are situated. From which also the magnitudes of nights and days, and which fixed stars become vertical, and which are always carried above the earth and which are always under the earth, and all things which we connect about the reason of habitation, can be perceived. All of which are of a most sublime and beautiful speculation, since it can be shown to human apprehensions through mathematical reasons how the sky itself behaves by nature, because a great part of it can be conspicuous to us. But the earth through an image, because although it is certain and great, it does not however surround us, nor can it be traveled over in its entirety all at once, nor piece by piece by the same men.

WHAT THINGS MUST BE PRESUPPOSED FOR GEOGRAPHY

CHAPTER II.

An ornamental drop cap 'Q' contains a diagram of a pair of drafting dividers.

WHat the end of one who wishes to exercise Geography is, and in what it differs from Chorography, these things have been noted almost summarily. Since, however, it is our present purpose to describe the habitable world, so that it may correspond with the greatest truth, we judge it necessary...