Islamic map of the world
c 18th century
Unlike conventional maps of today, the North is placed at the
bottom of this map with the West to the right. The circular earth
is shown surrounded by unknown seas depicted by coloured rings. The
Indian Ocean with the Red Sea is on the left (East), whilst the
Mediterranean is on the right (West). Below is a black square
indicating Rome and a circle for Constantinople. The Nile flows
into the Mediterranean from the South, turns a right angle to the
East and then heads to the large blue circle indicating its source
in Africa.