De lnsulis. A map of unidentified islands. Caribbean. SEBASTIAN MÜNSTER 1572
De lnsulis [A map of unidentified islands]. Artist/engraver/cartographer: Sebastian Münster. Provenance: "Cosmographiae Universalis Lib VI. In Quibus Iuxta Certioris Fidei Scriptores…" Authore Sebastiano Munstero. Cum Gratia & Privilegio Caes. Maiest. Basileae, ex Officina Henricpetrina. Type: Antique 16th century woodcut print. Although largely based on Ptolemy's work, the map incorporates some of the more recent Portuguese discoveries. The outlines of the Indian subcontinent, between the Indus and the Ganges rivers are now in a more recognizable form, with "Zaylon" (Sri Lanka) correctly shown as an island. The Portuguese outpost of Goa and Calicut, the first place where Vasco da Gama landed in 1497, are depicted. Further to the east "Taprobana" is also designated as "Sumatra.". The Portuguese trading port of "Malaqua" is shown. Java is depicted as two separate islands. "Moloca," center of the spice island trade and the object of considerable conflict between Spain and Portugal, is shown. The resolution of the dispute was the official purpose of Magellan's epic circumnavigation. The treatment of "Cathay" (China) is consistent with the writings of Marco Polo and other Venetian travellers.
Size: 4366px × 6709px
Location: Caribbean
Photo credit: © Antiqua Print Gallery / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1572, 16th, antique, authore, basileae, caes, caribbean, century, certioris, cosmographiae, cum, discoveries, fidei, ganges, gratia, henricpetrina, incorporates, indian, indus, islands, iuxta, largely, lib, lnsulis, maiest, map, munster, munstero, officina, outlines, portuguese, print, privilegio, ptolemy, quibus, rivers, scriptores, sebastian, sebastiano, sixteenth, subcontinent, unidentified, universalis, vi, vintage, woodcut, work, ünster
