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Map of the Americas, 1596

CONTENT WARNING

Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation. 

Context

Theodore de Bry (1528–1598) was born in Liege, Flanders (now part of the Netherlands), to a wealthy Protestant family and was trained as a goldsmith and engraver. As the Spanish and British began to explore North and South America, de Bry became interested in producing illustrations of the early descriptions from the reports provided by the explorers. He wanted to create images that could be marketed and sold to anyone. The ten volumes of narratives and engravings related to travel in the Americas produced by de Bry and his sons revived English interest in colonization after the failure of the Roanoke colony and served as an important source of information for Europeans who were interested in learning more about the New World.

This map of the western hemisphere was engraved by de Bry and included in one of the volumes published in 1596. The engraving depicts North and South America based on information gleaned from expedition surveys and personal accounts from explorers. It was the first map of North America to show the geography of Virginia and Florida as documented by John White, who was part of expeditions to Roanoke Island in the 1580s, and Jacques Le Moyne, who participated in a French expedition to Florida in 1564. Four famous explorers, Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, Ferdinand Magellan, and Francisco Pizarro, are shown in each corner of the map, along with the date of their discoveries of land in North or South America.


Citation: Bry, Theodor de (1528-1598).  America sive novvs orbis respectv Evropaeorvm inferior globi terrestris pars / [Theod. de Bry].  Francofurti ad Moenum: formis Theod. de Bry, 1596?. G3290 1596 .B7 Voorhees Map Collection, Library of Virginia.

Standards

History: USI.1, USI.2, USI.4, VUS.2, WG.1, WG.3, WHII.1, WHII.2

Science: 4.9, 5.6, ES.1, ES.8

 English: 4.7, 5.7

Suggested Questions

Preview Activity

Look at It: Look at the map. What do you notice about it? How is it different from other maps you have seen of North and South America?

Post Activities

Analyze: Identify the persons pictured on the map and show how they relate to American history.

STEM Stat: Cartographers and engravers in the 16th Century used their understanding of the world to create maps for practical purposes, like navigation, and for educational purposes. How has technology, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping software and satellite imagery, changed the way maps are created today?

Artistic Expression: Create your own map of America. Draw one person in each corner who you believe has had the most impact on American history. Explain why you chose those individuals.