“Para qualquer curioso ter algum conhecimento do Universo”: o manuscrito cosmográfico português Livro Intitulado Apprendis Curiozo (1612)

Abstract

This thesis examines the manuscript “Livro Intitulado Apprendis Curiozo”, a treatise on cosmographic science that integrates written and visual content into concise, clear statements. The Livro focuses on educating the reader, encouraging interaction with the text through didactic devices that illuminate various aspects of the universe’s structure and functioning within an Aristotelian-Ptolomaic framework. This dissertation investigates the authorship of the Livro and explores the likely motivations for its creation, situating it within a specific historical context, and identifying the primary sources and foundations used in its composition. To achieve this, we analyze the information within the Livro alongside other key documents, expanding our understanding of the author’s biography, his motivations, and the elements considered essential for inclusion in a scientific treatise.