ABSTRACT
The emergence of oceanic rutters in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries constituted a significant shift in the recording and transmission of maritime knowledge. Initially based on earlier traditions, these texts adapted to long-distance voyages by incorporating systematic observations of tides, currents, landmarks, and celestial navigation. While many remained unpublished, rutters circulated among elite scholarly networks, shaping cosmographical debates and influencing later navigational texts. This study examines how oceanic rutters were written, copied, translated, collected, organized, and preserved, highlighting their evolution from practical tools to valued cultural artifacts. Tracing the evolution of rutter writing, this chapter argues that they were essential instruments in redefining maritime space and globalization knowledge.
