Spanish Gallery

Al-Idrisis world map, 1154

Al-Idrisi's world map. This world map, known as the Tabula Rogeriana, dates from 1154, and is orientated with North at bottom. It was drawn by Muhammad Al-Idrisi (1100-1165), an Islamic and Andalusian scholar working for King Roger II of Sicily. It is considered to have been the most accurate world map for the next three centuries. Regions shown include Europe (lower right), the Mediterranean Sea (centre right), North Africa (upper right), the Arabian Peninsula (upper centre), the Black Sea and Caspian Sea (lower centre), and parts of Asia (left). This is a restoration and transliteration carried out in 1927 by the German scholar Konrad Miller (1844-1933)

© LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, GEOGRAPHY AND MAP DIVISION/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Catalan Atlas, 14th century

Catalan Atlas, 14th century. The 6-page Catalan Atlas (1375) was produced on vellum by the Jewish cartographer Abraham Cresques. It was commissioned by the rulers of the Kingdom of Aragon (north-eastern Spain). Two pages are on cosmography, and four on geography. This page shows the five known planets (plus the Moon and Sun) orbiting the Earth, the zodiac, moon phases, calendars, and the four seasons. The text is in Catalan. This version is a facsimile (exact reproduction) produced in 1959 by the Spanish scholars Joan Vernet and David Romano. The facsimile pages have been illuminated by hand in colour and gold leaf

© LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

The Surrender of Granada in 1492, 1882 (oil on canvas)

3247808 The Surrender of Granada in 1492, 1882 (oil on canvas) by Pradilla y Ortiz, Francisco (1848-1921); 330x550 cm; Palacio del Senado, Madrid, Spain; (add.info.: The armies of King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile laid siege to Muslim Granada. On January 2, 1492 the Nasrid ruler Sultan Muhammad XII of Granada (King Boabdil) surrendered the Emirate of Granada, the city of Granada, and the Alhambra palace.); Spanish, out of copyright

© Palacio del Senado, Madrid, Spain / Bridgeman Images