exhibition "Sunken treasures" It records the evolution of the view to the Red Sea over time

Reflect Historical maps The Red Sea has the strategic place that this seaway occupied in the memory of geographers, travelers, and mapmakers over the centuries, as it was not drawn only as geographical works, but also as visual documents that recorded the importance of the Red Sea as a gateway to trade, pilgrimage, and cultural communication between Asia, Africa, and Europe.
One of the historical maps displayed in the exhibition "Sunken treasures.. The maritime heritage of the Red Sea" The Red Sea Museum contains an early picture of the region dating back to the seventeenth century AD, and it highlights the awareness of mapmakers at the time of the importance of the Red Sea as a maritime artery connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, and containing ports and routes that played major roles in the global trade movement.

A hub for economic and cultural exchange

Historical maps show how the geographical location of the Red Sea contributed to consolidating its position as a hub for economic and cultural exchange, as commercial ships carrying spices, incense, and textiles crossed its waters. And minerals, as taken by pilgrim ships coming from large areas of the Islamic world, to become one of the most active and influential sea lanes throughout the ages.

These maps also highlight the development of geographic and navigational knowledge, as their preparation relied on the experiences of sailors, captains, and travelers, and they contributed to documenting coasts, islands, and ports, becoming a reference for maritime navigation before the emergence of modern means of navigation. They also reflect the scientific accumulation that contributed to improving the understanding of the nature of the Red Sea and its geographical characteristics.

The development of the vision for the sea. Red

These visual documents confirm that historical maps represent a source of knowledge no less important than archaeological evidence, as they record the development of the vision of the Red Sea over time, and highlight its role in creating the maritime history of the region, thus enhancing its value as a cultural and civilizational heritage that remains the focus of historical and maritime studies to this day.

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