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The First Map Dedicated to the Continent of South America
Nice example of Bordone's map of a portion of Central and South America and the contiguous Caribbean islands from Jamaica to the Windward Islands.
The map begins just south of the "Strait" which Bordone noted and likely represented the early conception that a strait existed between North and South America, in the area of the Caribbean Sea. The northern most landmass seems to correspond roughly with Yucatan peninsula.
This 1534 map provides a depiction of a portion of the coast of Central America, South America (southeast to Paria), and the Caribbean from Jamaica to the Windward Islands. The map prominently features the Caribbean islands of Jamaica, labeled as "Iamaiqua," and Hispaniola, labeled as "Spagnola." On the mainland, four significant regions are identified:
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Curtana: The text describes Curtana as follows: To the west lies the province of Curtana, which is densely populated. Their houses are built of wood and covered with plantain leaves. They consume shellfish containing pearls, and also have pigs, rabbits, hares, pigeons, doves, and peacocks, though not as well-raised as European counterparts. They have an abundance of these animals but lack oxen and sheep. They use bread made from herb roots and panic grass, and are excellent archers. To keep their teeth white, they continuously carry a certain herb in their mouths, washing their mouths with fresh water after spitting it out. They engage in trade with people from other countries, bartering their goods since they do not use money. Gold is not found here but is brought from other places, valued similarly to the Florin of the Rhine. Both men and women wear garments made of otter skin or woven cotton around their waists, and their women stay confined in the house.
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Canchite: (transcription from text) To the west, following the road, is the province of Canchite. The people here are agreeable and gentle, living without any suspicion. They are very jealous of their women, whom they keep continuously separated from other men. The land itself produces a great quantity of cotton, from which they make their clothes. Continuing westward for ten days' journey along the coast, one finds places that seem like true paradises, with castles, rivers, and gardens so full of beauty and delight that no human tongue could describe them. However, the inhabitants of these places are entirely opposite to the rest of the island, as they do not want any familiarity with foreigners. If by chance, a foreigner were cast here by fortune and wanted to disembark, they would fiercely resist with arms. Their customs are full of rusticity, yet they are very beautiful and well-proportioned, and universally pale in color.
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Mariatambal: This region is thought to represent the mouth of the Amazon River. Historical accounts by explorers such as Vicente Yáñez Pinzón describe this area as where "several swift rivers came together and flowed into the sea," creating a fertile and densely populated region dotted with numerous islands. During his 1499 expedition, Peralonso Niño noted that they had sailed so close to the equator that the North Star disappeared, making precise latitude calculations impossible. This region's location is consistent with early maps like Juan de la Cosa’s, which placed it slightly north of the equator along the South American coast. On the present map, it appears to be closer to the Orinoco River.
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Paria: This region is possibly eastern Venezuela, marking the eastern coastal area of South America. It was noted during Columbus's third voyage, where he recorded a latitude of 5º at Paria, indicating its proximity to the equator.
The map also shows the positioning of Jamaica and Hispaniola relative to the northern part of South America, providing a clear view of these key Caribbean islands in relation to the mainland.
The cartography includes detailed coastal outlines, significant rivers, and topographical features, reflecting the geographical understanding of the time. The regions are demarcated with a combination of place names and visual cues, making it a valuable historical document for understanding early 16th-century perceptions of the New World. The colors used for the various regions and islands are vivid, enhancing the visual appeal and clarity of the map.
Benedetto Bordone (1460-1531) was a polymath who was born in Padua and worked in Venice. He was an illuminator, engraver, miniaturist, editor, and geographer. It is possible he made the first globe in Italy. His most famous work is the Isolario, or Book of Islands, which included many of the earliest printed maps of islands in the New World.
Bordone, a prominent Venetian manuscript editor, miniaturist, and cartographer, was born in Padua, a city that was then part of the Republic of Venice. Although his exact date of birth remains unknown, historical records indicate that his parents married in Padua in 1442, and he himself was married in 1480. Bordone's contributions to the field of cartography, particularly through his seminal work, Isolario, have cemented his legacy as a pivotal figure in the Renaissance cartographic tradition.
Bordone's most renowned work, Isolario (The Book of Islands), printed in Venice in 1528, is a comprehensive compilation that describes all the known islands of the world. The book offers detailed accounts of each island's folklore, myths, cultures, climates, geographical situations, and historical narratives. It stands as a testament to the popularity of the isolario genre in 15th and 16th century Italy and serves as an illustrated guide for sailors, incorporating the era's latest transatlantic discoveries.
One of the notable features of Isolario is an oval depiction of the world, a map type invented by Bordone. This innovation was later formalized into the equal-area elliptical Mollweide projection three centuries afterward. Bordone's map portrays a distorted view of the New World, showing only the northern regions of South America and depicting North America as a large island labeled Terra del Laboratore (Land of the Worker), a likely reference to the region's active slave trade during that period, which also influenced the name Labrador.
The book also contains the earliest known printed account of Francisco Pizarro's conquest of Peru, making it a significant historical document. Among the numerous woodcut maps included in Isolario, twelve are dedicated to the Americas. These maps feature a plan of "Temistitan" (Tenochtitlan, modern Mexico City) before its destruction by Hernán Cortés, and a map of Ciampagu, the earliest known European-printed map of Japan depicted as an island.
Benedetto Bordone's familial connections are also of interest; he is reputed to have been the father of Julius Caesar Scaliger, a noted classical scholar, and the grandfather of Joseph Justus Scaliger, who is recognized as the founder of the science of historical chronology. The original maps from Bordone's Isolario are highly valued today for their historical significance and intricate craftsmanship. Through his work, Bordone has left an indelible mark on the history of cartography, providing invaluable insights into the geographical knowledge and cultural perceptions of his time.
