TIL about Sebastian Münster's 1540 map of the Americas, the first one to show that North and South America were connected by an isthmus and the first to call it 'The New World.'

Blaze (he/him) · 3 months ago

TIL about Sebastian Münster's 1540 map of the Americas, the first one to show that North and South America were connected by an isthmus and the first to call it 'The New World.'

@[email protected] · 3 months ago

I was trying to figure out what that island labeled Zipangri was supposed to be. At first, I thought it might be Baja California mismapped as an island instead of a peninsula.

A quick online search shows that is supposed to be Japan. Right off the coast of North America.

@[email protected] · 3 months ago

Let’s not forget that Europeans likely were not knowing California in the 16th century but knew Japan (from travel in the other direction).

Doll_Tow_Jet-ski · 3 months ago

Interesting map! Cuba is the only place that appears there with its current name. Funny that the map marks cannibals in the current west of brazil

@[email protected] · 3 months ago

It is kind of impressive they had this much mapped out when it hadn’t even been 50 years since Columbus’s first voyage.

@[email protected] · 3 months ago

“Terra Florida”. Flowery Land. Of course.

@[email protected] · edit-2 2 months ago

FYI: ſ is not a strangely written f, but an s. Tabulanouarum insularum.