
Historical Map of Africa from 1570
Ortelius’ Cornerstone Map of Africa
“Africae Tabula Nova”, Ortelius, Abraham
Period: 1570
Publication: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum
This striking map is one of the cornerstone maps of Africa and remained the standard map of Africa well into the seventeenth century.
It was designed by Ortelius from elements of contemporary maps by Gastaldi, Mercator, and Forlani and used several recent sources: Ramusio in Navigationi et Viaggi (1550), Joao de Barros in Decadas da Asia (1552), and Leo Africanus in Historiale description de l’Afrique (1556).
The majority of the nomenclature is taken from Gastaldi.
The Nile is based on the Ptolemaic concept, originating from two large lakes south of the equator. Curiously Ortelius did not represent the Mountains of the Moon (a prominent feature on most prior maps) and the twin lakes are not named. Ortelius introduced two important changes to the shape of the continent on this map; the Cape of Good Hope is more pointed, and the eastward extension of the continent was reduced significantly.
The map is decorated with a strapwork title cartouche, a grand sea battle (copied from Diego Gutierez’ wall map of the Americas), and sea monsters.
The presence of the ghost monster is barely visible in the sea off the Arabian peninsula. This beautiful map was engraved by Frans Hogenberg who engraved many of the maps for the Theatrum. This is the second state of the map with Latin text on verso, published in 1579.
Publicações Relacionadas
1677 Map of the Western Hemisphere - Historical Map
Engraving of Salvador de Bahia from 1770 - Historical Maps
Map of the Captaincy of Pernambuco from 1698 Overview
1609 Map of the Western Hemisphere - Historical Map
1592 Map of the Western Hemisphere - Historical Map
Map of Brazil 1698 - Historical Map
1643 Map of the Western Hemisphere - Historical Map
Map of the Azores from 1584
Map of Madeira and the Canary Islands from 1692
All Saints Bay Map of 1644 - Historical Map
Southeastern Colonial Map of the United States, Bahamas and Greater Antilles, 1706
1671 Map of Mexico and Central America - Historical Map
1679 Map of Recife - Historical Map
Map of South America and Brazil 1624 - Historical Map
Historical maps showing the territorial development of Brazil
Map of Southern South America, 1656 - Historical Map
1730 Map of the Western Hemisphere - Historical Map
Map of Brazil 1730 - Historical Map
1740 Map of the Western Hemisphere - Historical Map
Map of Rio de Janeiro, 1775 - Historical Map
1730 Map of Northern South America - Historical Map
1727 Map of the Western Hemisphere - Historical Map
1713 Map of the Western Hemisphere - Historical Map
Map of Brazil divided into fourteen hereditary captainships from 1657 onwards
Engraving of Cabo Santo Agostinho from 1645 - Historical Engravings
Map of Brazil 1747 - Historical Maps of Brazil
1694 Map of South America - Historical Map
Map of Brasil from 1757: Historic Coastal Views
1587 Map of the Western Hemisphere - Historical Map
Engraving of Todos os Santos Bay from 1671 Explained
1832 Map of Brazil - Historical Map
1730 Map of the Western Hemisphere - Historical Map
Map of South America from 1740: Historical Insights
1660 Map of the Western Hemisphere - Historical Map
Copper Engraving of Salvador from 1748: History Explored
Map of South America, 1840
This post is also on:

















