Martin Behaim ~ 1492

    Terrestrial and celestial globes are used for representing the positions of geographical and astronomical features. During the sixteenth century, with the new interest in exploration and navigation, terriestrial globes became increasingly in demand. 
   The first known terrestrial globe was constructed by the Nuremberg map-maker Martin Behaim in 1492. (For more information on this globe see under "Historical Maps.")

Arabian Celestial Globe ~ 1279

     The Arabian celestial globe of 1279 is one of the five oldest Islamic globes known. Constructed by Muhammed be mu'aijad al-Ardi of Meragha in Persia, it consists of brass overlaid with gold and silver. Only 30.5 cm high with a diameter of 14.4 cm, it illustrates the positions of about one thousand stars arranged into 47 constellations, following ideas of Ptolemy.

Praetorius ~ 1568

     The terrrestrial globe of 1568 was constructed by Johannes Praetorius of Nuremberg. It is made of brass to a scale of about 1 to 45 million, and is 47 cm high with a diameter of 28 cm. The map inscribed on the globe depicts the continents of Europe, Africa, Asia and America, with America shown joined to Asia.