Das Dritte Buch / Münster in Westphalen. / Munster

Title

Das Dritte Buch / Münster in Westphalen. / Munster

Illustration of the city of Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia, with a site index below. The back features a donkey as the coat of arms and an hanged 'culprit'.

ca. 1550

Artist

Münster (1489-1552)

Sebastian Münster (1489–1552) was a leading Renaissance cosmographer. His most famous work, the Cosmographia (1544), was a comprehensive description of the world with 24 maps, based on research dating back to 1528. Continuously revised, the 1550 edition already included many new maps. It was the first scientific yet accessible world description published in German, illustrated with numerous woodcuts by artists such as Hans Holbein the Younger. Between 1544 and 1650, the Cosmographia appeared in 46 editions (27 in German) and was translated into several languages. Münster’s work combined the knowledge of scholars, artists, and travelers and remained influential long after his death.

Historical Description

The history of Münster dates back to the 8th century, when the bishopric of Münster was established. Saint Liudger was the first bishop of Münster and played a key role in the Christianization of the region. In the Middle Ages, Münster grew into an important trading city and religious center, as it held significant influence in the region as a bishopric. The St. Paulus Cathedral was built in the 13th century and remains one of the city's landmarks today. In the 16th century, Münster played a significant role in the religious conflicts of the Reformation and was the site of the Münster Rebellion (1534–1535), during which radical reformers took control of the city. During the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), Münster became known for hosting the Westphalian Peace Talks, which ended the war in 1648 and reshaped the political order in Europe. In the 19th century, Münster experienced a period of growth and industrialization, also gaining importance as a cultural center. Today, Münster is a city with a rich history, now known as a modern, livable city with a strong connection to its historical and cultural past.