Michael Baizerman Author

 First of all, my lecture. Titled "The Place of Geography in the Medieval European Science", it met with moderate success. The audience was familiar, so I did not need to introduce myself. Based on three chapters from Unit I of my manuscript, "The Enchanting Encounter with the East", the lecture was accompanied by numerous illustrations and charts. The meat of the matter was to show that medieval conceptions were scientifically sound, prone to arguments, and in many cases inconclusive, i.e., requiring additional research.  I am so happy to read accounts of maritime journeys for my current project. I have already got acquainted with the diaries of Felix Fabri and Pietro Casola and now I am studying the report submitted by Roberto da Sanseverino. The last one is the most productive since its author has a deep understanding of navigation problems. Besides, the editor, Vidoni, presents and explains entangled issues to my satisfaction. Pietro Casola,  I have other names ...

I downloaded another chapter from the second book, "The Enchanting Encounter with the East", on my site  https://independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichael    The extract tells about the location of Jerusalem on the European medieval mind maps.  Jerusalem on the Madaba Map  Courtesy:  http://www.ancientpages.com/2017/06/16/stunning-madaba-map-oldest-known-mosaic-built-of-two-million-stone-cubes/   Throughout the late Middle Ages, Jerusalem functioned as the center of the inhabited world on contemporary 'world maps'. The article discloses various aspects of this spiritual vision which only intensifies after the crusaders' exile from the Holy Land.  Pope Urban II launched the First Crusade. Saewulf and San Severino were the pilgrims who visited the Holy Land in the 12th and 15th centuries. They both shared the vision of Jerusalem as the navel of the world.  Sir John Mandeville is a fictitious author of a 14th-century t...