Sea in culture of barbarian invaders and knowledge of geography took a backward step. In the seventh century, Isidore of Seville produced a "wheel map" in which Asia, Africa and Europe were arranged like segments in an orange, separated by the "Mare Mediterranean", "Nilus" and "Tanais" and surrounded by "Oceanus". It was not until the fifteenth century that Ptolemy's maps were used again and Henry the Navigator of Portugal initiated ocean exploration and maritime research. Encouraged by him, Portuguese navigators explored, mapped and charted the west coast of Africa and the Eastern Atlantic and this knowledge prepared the way for the great voyages
Cluster of Excellence "Asia and Europe in a Global Context" book series -“Transcultural Research: Heidelberg Studies on Asia and Europe in a Global Context” and “Heidelberg Transcultural Studies” – as well as the e-journal “Transcultural Studies”. All of them are peer-reviewed. The Master of Arts program "Transcultural Studies" started in the winter term 2011/12 at Heidelberg University and combines interdisciplinary education with a transcultural focus. Language of instruction is English. The "Graduate Programme for Transcultural Studies" offers a structured doctoral program within the interdisciplinary research environment of the Cluster. Cluster of Excellence "Asia and Europe in a Global Context" The Cluster of Excellence "Asia and Europe in a Global Context"