The Caribbean region is one of the most attractive and significant places in the world, with a unique culture and amazing people. People of several generations have lived in the area, which has passed through many changes. We can learn about its cartography through its historical maps, especially those that concern the Caribbean region. Its history is about exploration, colonization, and many people’s relations with each other, thoughts, and opinions. Hence, by using the historical maps of the Caribbean, we can get a visual view of the region’s geographical features, politics, and societies and know how much the Caribbean Island has transformed over time.
Earliest Map of the Caribbean Islands from Juan de la Cosa in 1500
This remarkable map is not just one of the oldest to show the Americas – it’s actually the earliest known map to depict the New World. Juan de la Cosa, a skilled Spanish navigator and cartographer, created this map on an ox hide, resulting in a large, oval-shaped world map measuring about 93 cm × 183 cm (37 in × 72 in). This Caribbean map shows incredible detail of the Caribbean islands, reflecting de la Cosa’s firsthand knowledge from his voyages with Columbus. You can see Cuba, Hispaniola (modern-day Haiti and Dominican Republic), and many smaller islands carefully drawn.
The map is beautifully decorated with illustrations of monarchs, biblical scenes, and mythical creatures. Furthermore, you can see a large image of Saint Christopher carrying Christ’s child across the Atlantic, which symbolizes the Christian mission of exploration. Interestingly, the Caribbean is a focal point; the map also shows parts of Africa and Asia with surprising accuracy for its time. Moreover, it also features intricate compass roses and a network of rhumb lines that demonstrate advanced navigational knowledge.
De la Cosa used different colors to indicate which European powers claimed various territories. For example, the British flag appears over part of North America, reflecting John Cabot’s voyages. It includes some mythical places, like the island of St. Brendan, showcasing how fact and legend still intermingled in the geographical understanding of the time. All four of Columbus’s voyages are represented on the map, making it a crucial record of early New World exploration. There’s no Florida or Gulf of Mexico on the map. Europeans hadn’t found these places yet. This helps us understand how people learned about the Caribbean over time, and it is reflected in their historical maps.
Map of Isola Cuba Nova- Caribbean Island History in 1574
The Isola Cuba Nova map from 1574 is a fascinating piece of Caribbean history. Created by Italian cartographer Tomaso Porcacchi, this map gives us a unique look at Cuba during the early colonial period. It’s one of the earliest detailed historical maps of the Caribbean focusing solely on Cuba, showing us how European understanding of the island was growing. This map is special because it shows Cuba’s shape much more accurately than earlier maps. You can see the long, curved shape of the island that we recognize today.
The map labels major cities like Havana (marked as “Havana”) and Santiago de Cuba (shown as “S. Giacomo”). These cities were important in Cuba’s colonial history, serving as centers for Spanish control and trade. Porcacchi’s map also shows some of Cuba’s natural features. You can see mountains drawn on the map, representing Cuba’s varied landscape. The surrounding waters are marked with tiny ships, hinting at the important role Cuba played in Caribbean trade routes. One interesting detail is how the map shows Florida, labeled as “La Florida.”
It appears as a small peninsula north of Cuba, showing that Europeans were starting to understand the geography of the wider Caribbean region. This helps us see Cuba’s place in the larger Caribbean map. The Isola Cuba Nova map is more than just a picture of an island. It’s a snapshot of Cuba at a key moment in its history. This was a time when sugar plantations were starting to change Cuba’s economy and society. The Spanish were firmly in control, shaping Cuba’s future in ways that would last for centuries.
Descrittione del l’Isola Map – Map of Hispaniola Islands
The “Descrittione del l’Isola” map is a treasure of Caribbean history. It was made in the late 16th century, around 1560 to 1570, by a famous Italian mapmaker, Giacomo Gastaldi. This map shows us the island of Hispaniola, which today is split into Haiti and the Dominican Republic. You can see mountains, rivers, and forests drawn on the map. It even shows some of the first Spanish towns on the island, like Santo Domingo. This helps us understand how the Spanish were changing the island after Columbus arrived.
The map has little pictures of native people and animals that show the effects of colonialism in the Caribbean. These drawings tell us about the island’s original inhabitants and wildlife and about those special 13 Caribbean counties. It’s like a peek into life on Hispaniola long ago. One interesting thing about this map is that it shows the names of both Spanish and native places. This mix of names helps us see how European and native cultures were starting to blend. It’s a clue about the early effects of colonialism in the Caribbean. Gastaldi’s map is more than just a picture of an island.
It is an essential piece of the Caribbean history timeline. It shows us Hispaniola at a time when it was the center of Spain’s American empire. This was before other islands like Cuba became more important. It shows us how Europeans saw the Caribbean in the 1500s and became a historical landmark of the Caribbean. We can learn about early colonial cities, native settlements, and how people understood the island’s geography.
Old Map of Caribbean Islands by Homman Heirs in the 18th century
The map known as the Homann Heirs’ Map is an interesting document of Caribbean history. Developed in the mid-18th century, around 1740, this map can help us identify the Caribbean islands. Johann Homann created it. It depicts all the large islands, like Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola, as well as the small ones. The map is very colorful, with different islands in bright colors to make them easy to see. One interesting thing about this map is how it shows the effects of colonialism in the Caribbean, as in other antique maps of the Caribbean.
You can see which European countries owned different islands. For example, Jamaica is marked as British, while Cuba is shown as Spanish. Reliable information about the sea connection is also depicted on the Homann Heirs’ Map. From the map, you can distinguish some small ships in the Caribbean Sea, which indicates a large flow of merchants and explorers. You can see little ships drawn on the map, showing how busy the Caribbean Sea was with traders and explorers.
Overall, this map is for those who are seeking facts about Caribbean history. You can also find the modern world maps in our store. It is not only the territories of continents and oceans reflected on the map. It also has beautiful edges trimmed with beautiful artwork and designs all around it. These decorations often show scenes from Caribbean life, like sugar plantations or native people. This map is part of the Caribbean history timeline developed to also help people learn about the history and such neighboring countries as the Bahamas. It shows us the region at a time when sugar was becoming a huge industry, changing the islands’ economies and societies.
Colonial Map of the Caribbean World by John Arrowsmith in 1810
This map was made by John Arrowsmith in 1810 and depicts the Caribbean islands in considerable detail. It is said to be highly accurate for the period in which it was made. The Arrowsmith map displays all the major islands, as well as minor ones that many maps did not include. One interesting fact is how it designates different colonial regions. British territories are in pink, Spanish territories in yellow, French territories in blue, and Dutch territories in green. This really shows how many European countries had a stake in the Caribbean back then.
The map is filled with names of places. It names not only the large islands but also small keys, shoals, and even underwater banks. It was very useful for ships that wanted to avoid certain hazardous areas. Arrowsmith added commentaries on currents of the ocean and trade winds. These were very important to sailors who wanted to navigate through the Caribbean region. A large number of ports and harbors are depicted on the map; their depths and areas suitable for anchoring are indicated as well. Some of the large ports are easily identifiable; you can see ports like Havana, Kingston, and San Juan clearly marked. Notably, it also features some parts of the inland area.
It depicts the mountains, rivers, and even some roads on the larger islands. This was unusual for the sea charts of the period. Arrowsmith also indicated areas where one can get water on different islands. This was useful information for ships on long sea journeys. Along the coastlines, there are detailed depictions of significant ports and channels. These provided additional information for sharp turns and other difficult-to-navigate areas.
Features of the Caribbean Historical Islands with Maps
- The Caribbean has over 7,000 islands, but most historical maps of the Caribbean only show the 30 largest ones.
- Many Caribbean maps include the mysterious Bermuda Triangle, even though it’s not officially recognized.
- Some islands have had multiple names over time. For example, Haiti and the Dominican Republic share an island once called Hispaniola.
- Old Caribbean maps often marked pirate havens like Port Royal in Jamaica and Tortuga off Haiti’s coast.
- Modern Caribbean maps show amazing underwater structures, such as the Puerto Rico Trench, the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean.
- Historical maps of the Caribbean used different colors to show which European powers controlled each island, creating a patchwork effect.
- Some old maps of the Caribbean included non-existent islands, like the mythical Antillia or Isle of Demons.
- Maps show how some island borders have changed over time, like the split of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten between France and the Netherlands.
- Updated Caribbean maps often include recent changes from volcanic eruptions, like the growth of Montserrat’s exclusion zone.
- Some specialized Caribbean historical maps display common hurricane paths, essential for understanding weather patterns.
- Underwater archaeology has led to maps showing the locations of sunken cities like Port Royal, Jamaica, which were lost to earthquakes.
- The Caribbean inspired many fictional treasure maps, like the one in “Treasure Island,” based on real pirate lore.
- Comparing old and historical maps of the Caribbean and new maps shows how some Caribbean coastlines have changed due to erosion and rising sea levels.