Databases of Cartographic Images
One relational database has been created for each period: Ancient, Early
Medieval, Late Medieval and Renaissance. Basically they are my futile attempt
to capture, in one place, all of the significant information that I could
find pertaining to each illustration for easy and quick reference. This
information usually includes: a description of what geographical featrures
and/or concepts are being displayed; pertinent historical background information;
the known location of the image; references used/consulted; the actual size
of the image; and anything else that I thought was interesting relative
to the map in question. The choice of which cartographic images are included
is purely personal. The sequence is basically chronological according to
the date of either the illustration, a "scholarly estimate" or,
if is a reproduction, facsimile, reconstruction or interpretive re-drawing
it is placed within the same time frame of the original; although you will
notice this is often deviated from in order to group certain maps into my
own sense of logic.
The databases have been developed using Claris' FileMaker Pro 4.0
relational database software. Each illustration exists as a 35mm slide transparency
and has been transferred to Kodak Photo Compact Disks (CDs). These illustrations
were then imported into the FileMaker databases. Each database ranges
in size between 50 MB(Ancient) to 200-450 MB (Late Medieval/Renaissance)
and are easily stored on 100 MB Iomega Zip disks.
Copies of these databases, still under development, are available upon request
for the cost of a Zip disk.