How the Creation of the Atlas Helped Discover Continental Drift

Abraham Ortelius is a key figure in the history of human knowledge.

He is known as the inventor of the atlas - a book bringing maps together in one format and with the same display - and was the first person to discover continental drift.

On the anniversary of the First Atlas, two prestigious Antwerp institutions come together to celebrate the geographer’s legacy.

In this exhibit, the curators of the Museum Plantin-Moretus introduce you to Ortelius’ life, work and relationship with other humanists of his epoch, including printer and publisher Christophe Plantin.

Alas, things take a turn for the worst.

The political situation in the Netherlands changes dramatically from the year 1560 onwards.

A revolt against the Spanish king breaks out and the Eighty Year’s War commences. As a result the Netherlands are separated once and for all. Antwerp enters a period of economic downfall.

Abraham’s family includes his parents Leonard Ortels and Anne Harrewayers, and his sisters Anne and Elisabeth. The Ortels family sympathizes with the ideas of the Reformation.

Abraham is a gifted child. He can speak Dutch, Greek, Latin, Italian, French, Spanish and also some German and English.

Abraham and his sisters become kaartafzetters: they specialize in coloring illustrations and maps.

Abraham builds a successful business as kaartafzetter. It will remain his most important source of income for the rest of his life. He also deals in antiques, coins, maps and books.

The 16th century as a time of fundamental changes

Journeys of exploration, revolutionary inventions and the rediscovery of classical authors lead to new insights as well as a new view of the world.

This engraving shows some of the greatest inventions and discoveries of the humanist era. In the center, for example, you can observe the printing press.

Ortelius is a humanist.

He studies classical literature and history, and keeps up with the evolution of science. Discoveries in America, Africa and Asia fascinate him.

This map by Ortelius published in 1587 is entitled "America or the New World, a new description."

Like so many other humanists, Abraham adopts the Latin version of his surname, so that "Ortels" becomes "Ortelius".

A passionate collector

His Museum Ortelanium boasts books, prints, paintings, wall maps, coins (such as the one depicted here), scientific instruments and a cabinet of curiosities.

At a certain point the collection becomes so large that Ortelius has to move to a larger house!

Ortelius corresponds with prominent scientists from all over Europe.

His "friendship book" (Album Amicorum) reads like a Who's who of his time.

Here, an allegory celebrates Ortelius' friendship with Joris Hoefnagel, by depicting the two men's common humanist interests.

His many interests and wide network led Ortelius to travel a lot: to Italy, France, the Netherlands, England and Ireland. Here, we see Ortelius and his companions engraving their names on a Dolmen, during a trip to Poitiers.

On one of his travels he is accompanied by the cartographer Gerard Mercator. The journey will inspire him to start producing maps himself.

Again, Joris Hoefnagel's name can be spotted. Can you find it on the stone?

The very first maps Ortelius produces are large wall maps: of the world, Egypt, the Holy Land, Asia, Spain and the Roman Empire.

From then on, maps will dominate Ortelius’ life.

Abraham Ortelius becomes the inventor of the atlas.

The first edition of Ortelius' atlas is published in 1570 and holds 53 maps. The last edition dates from 1622 and it holds 167 maps.

See here a map of Europe, from the 1587 edition.

Everybody praises the magnificent atlas and its beautifully engraved maps, made by Frans Hogenberg.

Mercator writes: ‘I have studied your Theatrum and I can only congratulate you on the great care and elegance with which you have embellished the work of several authors (…)’.

The Theatrum is a commercial success.

During Ortelius’ life no less than 24 editions are published. After his death another 10 will follow. The book, written in Latin, is translated into Dutch, French, Spanish, English and Italian.

Ortelius also provides an addendum (Latin Parergon) with historic maps: see here a map of the Roman Empire.

A pocket edition of the Theatrum is put on the market.


The Spieghel der Werelt (Mirror of the World) will eventually enjoy a run of thirty editions. Many prominent and famous people carried this mini atlas with them during their journeys.

Plantin was famous for the extremely high standard of his work, guaranteeing high quality paper, exceptional typography, accurate texts and the very best illustrations.

In 1558, Abraham Ortelius bought a book by Vergilius from Plantin, as mentioned in Plantin's journal which you can see here. It is the very first time that these two names occur together. They will become the best of friends.

Can you spot Abraham Ortelius' first name in this document?

Christophe Plantin's talent appeals to Ortelius' love of good craftsmanship.

Ortelius colours Gerard Mercator’s maps for him.

Plantin didn't publish the first edition of the Theatrum, though he did play a key role in the selling of the atlas.

He sells it to merchants from Augsburg, Milan and Genova, among others, as this journal testifies.

Plantin publishes a Spanish edition of the Theatrum and presents a number of coloured copies to King Philip II of Spain, who ruled the Netherlands at the time.

Plantin also publishes Ortelius’ dictionary of place names, the Synonymia Geographica.

This rich dictionary associates old and modern place names with their equivalents in the popular language of the day.