Reflections on Brexit

As we wrestle with our European neighbours, willingly or unwillingly, over integration or disintegration, this could be a moment for reflection on earlier perceptions of the British Isles, and take a sideways view of our national identity. Even in the 16th century, the German cartographer, Sebastian Munster, could see there were two ways of looking at the issue, and that both sides had their merits.

Whether you lean to the left, or the right, it is worth bearing in mind that only 40 years separate these two polar opposite views, slightly fewer years than we have been members of the EU, but nearly 500 years since these woodcut maps were produced to illuminate the text of the 2nd century Greco-Roman geographer, Claudius Ptolemy, as well as enlighten our understanding of each other through our geographical and cosmographical commonality.

Click the images below for more information

Munster (Sebastian) Das Engelland mit dem anstossenden Reich Schottland, Basel, [1540-1578].

Munster (Sebastian) Engellandt mit dem anstossenden Reich Schottlandt, so vor Zeiten Albion und Britannia haben geheissen, Basel, [c.1588].