T and O map

De Natura Rerum, Chapter XLVIII, 2 (translation): So the earth may be divided into three sides (trifarie), of which one part is Europe, another Asia, and the third is called Africa.

[2]Etymologiae, chapter 14, de terra et partibus: Latin: Orbis a rotunditate circuli dictus, quia sicut rota est [...] Undique enim Oceanus circumfluens eius in circulo ambit fines.

Divisus est autem trifarie: e quibus una pars Asia, altera Europa, tertia Africa nuncupatur.Etymologiae, chapter 14, de terra et partibus (translation): The [inhabited] mass of solid land is called round after the roundness of a circle, because it is like a wheel [...] Because of this, the Ocean flowing around it is contained in a circular limit, and it is divided in three parts, one part being called Asia, the second Europe, and the third Africa.

[citation needed] This qualitative and conceptual type of medieval cartography could yield extremely detailed maps in addition to simple representations.

[dubious – discuss][citation needed] Different cartographic material, which represented more useful tools for the traveler, were the itinerarium, which listed in order the names of towns between two points, and the periplus that did the same for harbors and landmarks along a seacoast.

This T and O map, from the first printed version of Isidore 's Etymologiae , identifies the three known continents as populated by descendants of Sem ( Shem ), Iafeth ( Japheth ) and Cham ( Ham ).
The Hereford Mappa Mundi , ca. AD 1300, Hereford Cathedral , England. A classic "T-O" map with Jerusalem at center, east toward the top, Europe at bottom left and Africa on the right.
Ideal reconstruction of medieval world maps (from Meyers Konversationslexikon , 1895)
A "T-O" map made with modern cartography