T and O rendering

T and O renderings, also known as mappemonde, were a style of medieval map that depicted the world as a disk surrounded by ocean. These maps typically showed only three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. The continents were separated by a "T" shape formed by the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile River. This cartographic style was prevalent during the Middle Ages, reflecting a worldview often influenced by religious interpretations rather than precise geographical knowledge. While later medieval mapmakers were aware of the Earth's sphericity, T and O maps remained schematic and oriented with east at the top. This contrasts with earlier Babylonian maps and later, more accurate navigational charts that emerged with advancements in exploration and surveying.12