Get to Know about Old World Maps of Portugal
Antique maps of Portugal are like time capsules. They help us understand Portugal’s history and its influence on the world. These old maps of Portugal show the country’s vast maritime legacy, highlighting its role in exploring unknown lands and seas. During the Age of Exploration, Portuguese sailors created detailed maps that guided them across the globe. These vintage maps of Portugal reflect the country’s rich past and contributions to global cartography. In this blog, we will explore five notable maps. Each one comes from a different era and reveals unique aspects of Portuguese cartography. Let’s dive into how these maps tell the story of Portugal’s adventurous spirit and global impact.
Historical Significance of Antique Maps of Portugal
Antique maps played a crucial role during the Age of Exploration. They helped Portuguese explorers navigate unknown seas and establish important trade routes. These vintage maps of Portugal recorded new territories in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They were the first visual representations of these regions for Europeans. Portuguese cartography set high standards for map-making and influenced other European explorers. These maps were not just navigational tools. They also showed the cultural and geographical knowledge shared between Europe and newly explored lands. Preserving these maps is important as they give us insights into Portugal’s maritime dominance and its impact on world history. They are valuable pieces of heritage that connect us to the past. You can also explore the world like never before with our interactive World Map.
Top 5 Antique Maps of Portugal
Tabula Secunde Europa- Antique Map of Spain and Portugal in 1482
The Tabula Secunde Europa is an ancient map from the early 15th century, showcasing a unique view of Portugal and parts of Spain. Unlike modern maps, it uses a medieval perspective that can seem unfamiliar but is fascinating to explore. This specific map focuses on the Iberian Peninsula, showcasing ancient Portugal and parts of Spain. It provides a fascinating glimpse into how medieval cartographers perceived these regions. While the map isn’t geographically accurate by modern standards, it features several key elements that were significant at the time.
This map is part of the Ptolemaic tradition, reflecting ancient geographical knowledge from the time of Claudius Ptolemy. What stands out on this map is the detailed representation of major cities and regions in Portugal, such as Lisbon, Porto, and the Douro River. It also includes significant neighboring areas of Spain, highlighting important cities like Salamanca and Zamora. The map’s depiction of the Iberian Peninsula is more symbolic than accurate by today’s standards. It shows rivers, mountain ranges, and the coastline in a stylized manner, focusing on the key landmarks known to scholars and explorers of that era.
The Tabula Secunde Europa provides a glimpse into the medieval understanding of Europe and Portugal’s place within it. It reveals how ancient cartographers viewed the world, blending geographical knowledge with imagination. This map was crucial for scholars and travelers in the past as it offered one of the most detailed representations of Portugal available at the time.
Hispaniae Descriptio by Zenoi- 16th-century map of Portugal
The Hispaniae Descriptio map by Giovanni Battista Zenoi, created in 1560, is a fascinating depiction of the Iberian Peninsula, including both Spain and Portugal. This beautifully detailed map showcases the geography and political boundaries of the region during the Renaissance. The map is oriented with the west at the top, a common practice in the 16th century. It intricately illustrates the coastlines, major cities, and natural features of both countries.
In Portugal, the map highlights key cities such as Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra. The coastline is meticulously detailed, showing prominent ports like Setúbal and Faro, which were significant for trade and navigation. The Douro and Tagus rivers are also clearly depicted, reflecting their importance for transport and commerce in Portugal. The inland areas showcase the rugged terrain and mountain ranges like the Serra da Estrela, emphasizing the region’s varied geography. The map’s depiction of Spain is equally detailed, featuring cities such as Madrid, Toledo, and Seville, as well as regions like Andalusia and Catalonia.
It also includes depictions of smaller towns and villages, making it a valuable resource for understanding the political and geographical landscape of the Iberian Peninsula in the mid-16th century. The Hispaniae Descriptio is more than just a geographical representation; it reflects the political importance and strategic position of the Iberian Peninsula during the Renaissance. For enthusiasts of old maps of Portugal and Portuguese cartography, this map offers a unique glimpse into the historical landscape and maritime significance of Portugal during this period.
Old Map of Portugal by Petrus Bertius from 1603- Portugallia Map
One of the fascinating maps of Portugal is by Petrus Bertius and Langenes, with its beautiful and compact depiction of the country reflecting its geographical and political importance at the time. This map is part of the “Tabularum Geographicarum” atlas, and its intricate details make it a valuable artifact of early modern cartography. On this old map of Portugal, you can see the detailed coastline stretching from the north, near Porto, down to the southern region, where Faro is located.
Major cities like Lisbon and Coimbra are clearly marked, showing their significance in trade and governance. The map also includes notable rivers, such as the Douro and Tagus, which were crucial for inland navigation and trade. These rivers are depicted winding through the landscape, connecting various towns and cities. One interesting feature of this map is its inclusion of the Azores Islands to the west, emphasizing their importance to Portugal during the Age of Exploration.
The map also showcases the natural borders between Portugal and Spain with the depiction of mountain ranges like the Serra da Estrela, highlighting the rugged terrain that separated the two nations. For enthusiasts of Portuguese cartography, this map by Bertius and Langenes is more than just a geographical representation; it’s a snapshot of Portugal’s influence and reach during a significant period in its history. The fine details and careful depiction of Portugal’s cities, rivers, and islands make it a valuable piece for anyone interested in the rich heritage of the country.
17th century Map of Portugal by Nicolas Sanson (1658)
The map of Portugal by Nicolas Sanson, created in the mid-17th century, is a remarkable piece that reflects the cartographer’s precision and attention to detail. Sanson, known as the “father of French cartography,” created this detailed map of Portugal, which was highly influential. As a prominent French cartographer, Sanson crafted this map during a time when Portugal was a major player in global exploration and trade. The map meticulously details the geographical and political landscape of Portugal and parts of Spain, with a focus on topographical features like rivers, mountains, and the coastline.
This map specifically shows Portugal and Spain’s parts in great detail. This map intricately depicts the geographic features of Portugal, including its rugged coastline, major rivers like the Douro and Tagus, and mountainous regions such as the Serra da Estrela. It also highlights key cities like Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra, which were significant hubs of trade and navigation. The map’s focus on the coastlines and ports underscores Portugal’s status as a powerful maritime nation.
Sanson’s work not only served as a navigational tool but also as a political document, providing a clear visual reference for understanding the territorial disputes and alliances of the time. During the height of Portuguese exploration, such maps were invaluable. They helped navigators chart their routes to distant lands and played a crucial role in planning trade expeditions. This map would have been used by merchants, sailors, and even European powers to understand the region’s geography and plan their ventures accordingly.
History of Spain and Portugal by Edward Weller- Vintage Portuguese Map in 1860
The 1860 map of Spain and Portugal by Edward Weller offers a detailed view of the Iberian Peninsula during the mid-19th century. This old antique map of Iberia showcases the distinct geographical and political boundaries of both countries. It includes major cities, mountain ranges, and significant rivers, reflecting the intricate landscape and infrastructure of the time. In Portugal, the map highlights key cities like Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra. The coastline is carefully marked, showing important ports such as Faro and Setúbal.
The map also captures the complex geographical features of the region, such as the Sierra de Guadarrama and the Cantabrian Mountains in Spain, which separated different regions and influenced settlement patterns. The rivers, including the Ebro, Guadalquivir, and Tagus, are prominently marked, serving as vital lifelines for the surrounding cities and towns. The map extends to include the Portuguese colonies of the Azores and Madeira, indicating their connection to the mainland. For Spain, the map illustrates major regions such as Andalusia, Catalonia, and Castile. Cities like Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona are clearly identified.
The Pyrenees Mountains form the natural border with France, while mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada are marked in the south. One of the map’s most notable features is its depiction of the extensive railway network spreading across both countries. The railways connected key cities like Lisbon, Madrid, Seville, and Porto, reflecting the industrial progress of the mid-19th century. This was a time when both Spain and Portugal were modernizing and expanding their economies, and the railroads played a crucial role in this transformation.
Unique and Fascinating Facts about Old Portugal Maps
- The “Mappa Mundi” by Ebstorf in the 13th century is one of the first known maps to include the word “Portugal” as a distinct entity.
- During the Age of Discovery, some Portuguese maps were kept as state secrets to protect navigation routes and newly discovered territories from rival European powers.
- The Miller Atlas of portugal from 1519 is famous for its vibrant use of colors and gold leaf, making it as much a work of art as it is a navigational tool.
- Some of the earliest maps of Portugal omitted the Azores Islands, despite their discovery in the 15th century, due to uncertainties about their precise location.
- Before Greenwich became the standard, the Portuguese often used Lisbon as the prime meridian in their maps, reflecting its importance during the Age of Exploration.