a) World Map:
This map of the world was created by Johann Schnitzer in 1482 or 1486. The exact date is unknown. Johann Schnitzer wrote this map in Latin and originally made it for the wealthy patrons living to view. This world map is based on the philosophers Ptolemy's work; the map represents the world as a whole. Because the sea is depicted, it is probable that the map was created for the wealthy. The Americas are not shown on this map because this land was not discovered until later by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Even then, Columbus was aiming to find a faster route to India, and instead reached North America. However, India’s existence is known to explorers and is depicted on this map because of Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer who was the first explorer to sail directly from Europe to India. This was important later on because it meant that the Portuguese wouldn’t need to cross the Mediterranean or Arabia to reach India. Since Vasco da Gama reached the lands of India, it also helped improve the Portuguese economy and started trading, including spices such as cinnamon and peppers. As I said this map was made for the wealthy, because only the upper class could travel by sea and trade luxuries. Usually the wealthy were the only people who had the spices and the luxuries. This map accurately displays how people in the fifteenth century imagined the world to be.
b) Iceland:
This beautiful map of Iceland was created by the Dutch cartographer Abraham Ortelius In 1585. Instead of this map being used for standard purposes, it was created for wealthy patrons. This was because the map is embellished with drawings of creatures who roam the ocean. Iceland, known for being a very exotic country, had all the different “sea monsters” placed around it. So we can infer that this map was not used for the purpose of actual sea monster documentation. In reality, Ortelius copied the sea monsters placed on other maps to his. In 1585, the queen of England, Elizabeth I signed the Treaty of Nonsuch. The Treaty of Nonsuch was signed to aid the Netherlands. The Netherlands received 6,400 foot soldiers and 1,000 cavalry. This was meant to end the Siege of Antwerp which was part of the Eighty Years’ War. In this particular battle, the Spanish invaded one of the biggest Dutch cities. Elizabeth I also gave 600,000 florins annually (quarter of the cost of the war each year). This treaty also gave Elizabeth I the power to assign two councillors to the council of state of the United Provinces. What was also part of the treaty was that Elizabeth I would get the title of Governor General of the Provinces, but she refused. This treaty obviously made Philip II upset and three years later caused him to launch the Spanish Armada which is a whole different part of history. But because of the treaty, the Netherlands were getting back up on its feet and looking for the light in such a dark place. At this point there was really no need for maps to go out on journeys. There wasn’t enough money to even fund such things. Instead beautiful maps such as this one were made purely just for looks.
c) North America:
This map specifically was created by Henry Briggs, potentially for the government. As an Englishman, Briggs wrote the map in English. What stands out on this map of North America is the fact that California is detached from the rest of the land. The reason for this was because Spanish explorers traveled to the gulf and only saw water. Since they did not sail all the way, Spain assumed California was an island. Their discovery was not contradicted because cartographers at the time copied each other’s maps and recorded their information on their own. Then, two men explored California more thoroughly and discovered that the land was indeed attached to North America. With their new maps, the explorers brought their discovery back to Spain. Spain turned them away, because California was politically beneficial to Spain as an island because California would then be less desirable to explore by other countries, giving Spain all the resources. The map and the truth was eventually published in France. Spain then allowed a proclamation to be made about California’s attachment. The myth of the “Island of California” was put to rest in the eighteenth century. Created around 1625, this map represents the later Age of Exploration as it was booming because of the large amount of discoveries being made. Although this map was created after their time, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand contributed to many of Spain’s discoveries by sponsoring explorers. The discovery of North America is credited to Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer who searched for Spain. Without Spain’s contributions to the discovery of not only North America but specifically California, this map would have never existed.
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