Geographical names of the Adriatic Sea on medieval and early-modern maps and nautical charts

• Published in: Journal of historical geography 2023-10, Vol.82, p.68-80
• Main Authors: Faričić, Josip, Selva, Orietta, Umek, Dragan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adriatic sea; Geographical name; Hydronym; Nautical chart
• ISSN: 0305-7488; 1095-8614
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhg.2023.09.007

The Adriatic Sea is one of the most frequently depicted parts of the Mediterranean on medieval and early-modern maps and nautical charts. Examination of these maps has revealed that the name of this sea reflects ancient tradition, particularly in terms of the use of various versions of the ancient Latin name Mare Adriaticum and, from the end of the Middle Ages, the Venetian declaration of political ambition to gain dominance over the entire sea. This Venetian agenda manifested itself in the naming of the entire sea as the Gulf of Venice (Golfo di Venezia). By uncritically adopting the geographical content of Venetian maps, the Venetian name for this sea was transferred to maps produced in numerous European cartographic centres. The abolition of the Republic of Venice in 1797 contributed to reduce the geographical scope of the hydronym Golfo di Venezia to the water area in the immediate vicinity of Venice, while various versions of the ancient name (Eng. Adriatic Sea, Ital. Mare Adriatico, Fr. Mer Adriatique, Ger. Adriatisches Meer, Cro. Jadransko more, etc.) prevailed. Based on the fact that maps are an important medium of communication of spatial information and spatial concepts, examples of the names of the Adriatic Sea on old maps confirm the importance of these sources for toponymy research. •Maps are complex media of communication and dissemination of geographical names.•Adriatic Sea was one of the most frequently depicted sea on European maps and nautical charts.•Centuries-old polyonymy of the Adriatic Sea is influenced by various political and cultural processes.•Name Adriatic Sea reflects ancient Roman Latin cultural heritage (Mare Adriaticum).•Name Golfo di Venezia for the Adriatic Sea reflects historical Venetian influence.