Dritter Theil 599 / Entwurff der Nassanischen Flotta, wie dieselbe ahn dem Ufer New Hispanien gelegen, und auff die Schiffe von Manila kommend..

Title

Dritter Theil 599 / Entwurff der Nassanischen Flotta, wie dieselbe ahn dem Ufer New Hispanien gelegen, und auff die Schiffe von Manila kommend..

Map depicts the coast of Accapulco and the coast of the island Guagan in the Pacific ocean. Theodor De Bry’s Grand Voyages, an illustrated collection of accounts of the Americas, defined the early European picture of the New World. Printed by David Aubri in Hanau.

ca. 1630

Artist

Bry, de - Merian (1528-1598)

In 1631, Matthäus Merian and Johann Ludwig Gottfried published Historia Antipodum, a heavily abridged, single-volume version of Theodor De Bry’s 14-part America series. After De Bry’s death, his sons continued the project. Merian, a skilled engraver, later married De Bry’s daughter and collaborated with Gottfried. The Historia Antipodum reorganized numerous travel accounts into three chapters covering nature, exploration, and recent colonial developments. Merian and Gottfried significantly reworked the content, merging reports and integrating illustrations into the text. Their depiction of the natural world and Indigenous cultures—drawing in part on José de Acosta’s writings—was particularly influential. The book stands as one of the most ambitious works of early modern travel literature.

Historical Description

Central America includes both the region of Central America and the West Indian Islands. The history of Central America is marked by profound cultural, political, and social changes. From the glorious indigenous civilizations to the dark era of colonization and the challenges of the modern world, Central America remains a region in constant transformation and of great historical significance. In pre-Columbian times, Central America was home to numerous influential cultures. The Maya were one of the most advanced civilizations of the pre-Columbian world and inhabited an area that today includes parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. The Aztecs primarily lived in Central Mexico, and the Olmecs are considered one of the oldest cultures in Mesoamerica.In the 16th century, European colonization of Central America began under Hernán Cortés, who conquered the Aztec Empire in 1521, marking the beginning of Spanish rule in Mesoamerica. In 1524, Pedro de Alvarado began the conquest of the Maya regions in Guatemala and other parts of Central America. When Columbus landed on San Salvador (Bahamas) in 1492 under the Spanish crown, he was primarily searching for gold and other riches. However, the Arawaks placed no value on what Europeans considered wealth. Thus, while the Caribbean was settled, the conquistadors soon turned their attention to the American continent. Gradually, the English, Dutch, and French also settled in the region.By the end of the 16th century, the region was mostly under Spanish control, and the Spanish colonization led to profound changes, particularly through the introduction of Catholicism, the destruction of indigenous cultures, and the reshaping of the social structure. In the early 19th century, the independence struggle in Central America began, influenced by the independence movements in other parts of Latin America.