 Because of this research for "De viris illustribus" and the "Africa",
encyclopedic and other sources refer to Petrarch as the first geographer and cartographer of modern times.Petrarch conceived his first plan for "De viris illustribus" of biographies of illustrious men of Jewish, oriental, Greek and Roman famous figures in 1337 before that of the "Africa".Scholars say Petrarch more than likely conceived "Africa" in 1338 based on this initial research of Lives for "De viris illustribus".