Catholic geographer and cartographer, born Antwerp, Holland, April 14, 1527; died there 1598. In 1564 he published an eight-leaved map of the world, which was followed in 1570 by the first great modern atlas, his Theatrum orbis terrarum, containing an index of ancient and modern place names. He also compiled a valuable list of cartographers and their works, and in 1587 published a still useful dictionary of old geography.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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