Cultural Readings - New World Lands in Print

CULTURAL READINGS: Colonization & Print in the Americas

NEW WORLD LANDS IN PRINT
New Geographies

The remapping of the world that began for Europeans in the 15th century was controversial. Altering the shape and location of the known world was tantamount to denying the received wisdom of ancient authors like Ptolemy. Nevertheless, texts printed during the 16th century gradually unsettled ancient geography by exposing New World discoveries.

Waldseemüller introduced the term "America" in his cartographic text, while Encisco described the New World for mariners. Chaves helped expose the breadth of Spanish cartographic knowledge.

Bordone turned mapping into an artistic enterprise, and Grynaeus and Huttich printed important travel relations along with their maps.

American landscapes, viewed from different angles, also fascinated Europeans like Champlain, who described Algonquian hunting practices.

Montanus presented exotic New World creatures for European readers, while Nieremberg applied principles of natural history to the New World by cataloging plants, animals - and peoples.

New World Lands in Print

New Geographies
Dividing Territory

Exhibition Contents | Introduction | Essays | Bibliography & Links

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	The remapping of the world that began for Europeans in the 15th century was controversial. Altering the shape and location of the known world was tantamount to denying the received wisdom of ancient authors like Ptolemy. Nevertheless, texts printed during the 16th century gradually unsettled ancient geography by exposing New World discoveries.
	Waldseemüller introduced the term "America" in his cartographic text, while Encisco described the New World for mariners. Chaves helped expose the breadth of Spanish cartographic knowledge.
	Bordone turned mapping into an artistic enterprise, and Grynaeus and Huttich printed important travel relations along with their maps.
	American landscapes, viewed from different angles, also fascinated Europeans like Champlain, who described Algonquian hunting practices.
	Montanus presented exotic New World creatures for European readers, while Nieremberg applied principles of natural history to the New World by cataloging plants, animals - and peoples.