Ancient map of Arabia, India, 1596

Hendrik van Langren was a Dutch cartographer and astronomer who lived from 1574 to 1645. He was known for his contributions to the field of cartography and his work in mapping various regions of the world.

The map depicting the coastal areas of Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia) and the Mecca Strait, was created by Hendrik van Langren in 1596. Abyssinia, which was a historical kingdom in East Africa, had a coastline along the Red Sea, and the Mecca Strait refers to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which separates the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aden.

Van Langren's map would have been based on the geographical knowledge available at that time. It's important to note that cartographic accuracy in the 16th century was limited compared to modern standards, as explorations and scientific advancements were still ongoing. Nonetheless, maps like the one created by Hendrik van Langren provided valuable information for navigation and exploration during that period.

Hendrik van Langren, also known as Henricus Hondius, was a Dutch cartographer and astronomer who lived from 1596 to 1663. He was born in The Hague, Netherlands, and was part of a renowned family of mapmakers and engravers.

Van Langren is best known for his work in cartography, particularly in the field of celestial cartography. He was appointed as the official cartographer to the Dutch East India Company in 1621, where he produced numerous maps and globes. He also collaborated with other prominent scientists and astronomers of his time, including Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler.

One of Van Langren's notable contributions to astronomy was his attempt to map the Moon. In 1645, he published a lunar map titled "Luna Belgica," which was one of the earliest detailed maps of the Moon. The map included features such as craters, mountains, and other lunar formations, and it served as an important reference for subsequent lunar cartography.

Despite his achievements, Van Langren's work did not gain widespread recognition during his lifetime. It was only in later years that his contributions to cartography and lunar mapping were acknowledged and appreciated by the scientific community.

It's worth mentioning that there seems to be some confusion regarding the name Hendrik van Langren and Henricus Hondius, as they are sometimes used interchangeably in reference to the same person. Nonetheless, both names refer to the same individual, who made significant contributions to the fields of cartography and astronomy during the 17th century.