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A World Transformed: Exploring the Spirituality of Medieval Maps

Lisa Deam (Goodreads Author)

4.25 · Rating details · 16 ratings · 2 reviews

On the edge of medieval maps, monsters roam. In the west, pilgrims take well-traveled roads to Rome and Compostela. In the east, Old Testament history unfolds. And at the center, in the city of Jerusalem, Jesus saves the world.

In A World Transformed, Lisa Deam takes us on an incredible journey through medieval maps. Despite their curious appearance, these maps, as Deam sho ...more

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Paperback, 160 pages

Published April 15th 2015 by Cascade Books

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Apr 27, 2015 Phil rated it it was amazing

When I learned of 'A World Transformed' it sounded fascinating – but when I read it, it was so much more than I'd hoped or expected. Lisa Deam leads us into the world of these Medieval maps, with Jerusalem at their centre, and acts as our guide to what we will find there – enabling us to see it with the eyes of faith. With brilliant and beautiful insights she shows us that these Medieval maps 'picture our history and our salvation' and that 'we have a place in their beautiful, Christ-centred wor ...more

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Jan 19, 2021 Jeff Garrison rated it really liked it

Shelves: christian-history, christianity, history, theology

This review was first published along with a personal essay on maps in my blog: https://fromarockyhillside.com/2021/0...

Lisa Deam has a PhD in art history. Torn between the study of art and religion, she found a way to blend the two with medieval maps. These old maps are not the equivalent of the gas station maps I grew up studying. Such maps were works of art. Most of these maps centered the world by placing Jerusalem, the locale of Christ’s atoning death and resurrection, in the middle. Everyt This review was first published along with a personal essay on maps in my blog: https://fromarockyhillside.com/2021/0...

Lisa Deam has a PhD in art history. Torn between the study of art and religion, she found a way to blend the two with medieval maps. These old maps are not the equivalent of the gas station maps I grew up studying. Such maps were works of art. Most of these maps centered the world by placing Jerusalem, the locale of Christ’s atoning death and resurrection, in the middle. Everything else in the world flowed there, including the three known continents of the pre-enlightened world.

Some of these ancient maps also had Christ behind the world, with his hands and feet holding the world up. Often the edges of the maps contained monsters and were scary places. But with Christ’s hands and feet the medieval travelers were reminded they were not alone when travelling. God’s protection was present.

These maps also contained a lot of information. Of course, some of the monsters were fantastical, but the map contained bits of history beyond what happened in Jerusalem. Interestingly, one of the themes were the conquests of Alexander the Great. Of course, one studying such a map in the 1300s would have no idea or first-hand knowledge of these places where Alexander or even Jesus walked.

The Hereford Map, produced around the year 1300, receives the most attention from Dean. This four-foot map resides in the cathedral has great detail. She also spends time with the Ebstorf Map and a small “Psalter Map.” Unlike the other two, the Psalter map was designed for private devotion.

Recommendation

Dean does not set out to write a history of cartography. Instead, we’re taken into the world of the era and invited to think of how their worldview and beliefs were seen through these maps. In addition, questions at the end of each chapter invites us to contemplate about our own lives and worldview in relation to God. While the book contains much new knowledge of maps in the 13th and 14th Centuries, it’s really written as a devotional guide.

I enjoyed reading this book. I only wish it included a 4-foot square copy of the Hereford Map that I could have spent lots of time poring over as I read the book. It does include a small version of the map and a few large, detailed sections of the map for the reader to see with their own eyes what the author is describing. I recommend this book. ...more

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