Portolan Chart, Pacific Coast, 1565

Portolan chart of the Pacific coast from Guatemala to northern Peru with the Galapagos Islands. Portolan charts are navigational maps based on compass directions and estimated distances observed by the pilots at sea. They were first made in the 13th century in Italy, and later in Spain and Portugal, with later 15th and 16th century charts noted for their cartographic accuracy. With the advent of widespread competition among seagoing nations during the Age of Discovery, Portugal and Spain considered such maps to be state secrets. The English and Dutch, relative newcomers, found the description of Atlantic and Indian coastlines extremely valuable for their raiding, and later trading, ships. No cartographer credited, 1565

Restrictions Only for Ireland and United Kingdom

1565 Cartographic Cartographical Map-making Mapmaking Navigational Portolan Portulan Sixteenth

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