A map of the world, with some map makers' sea beasts

Beyond the known world lay unknown lands - fertile realms for Shakespeare's imagination.

These were regions as yet unexplored by Europeans, such as Terra Australis Nondum Cognita (Unknown Land of Australia) and Tierra del Fuego (The Land of Fire).

The existence of huge unknown continents left Shakespeare free to imagine a fictional island for The Tempest. Some map makers filled the seas with mythical characters and sea beasts.

Go to Previous Page Return to Section Contents Get More Information about this image.
life
faith
society
london
theatre
sources
the world
travel
making early printed booksearly editions of Shakespeare's workswho looks after these books?
Shakespeare's Study titleintro pageauthor indexlinksclick here to e-mail usgo to the main Windows on Warwickshire page