Mappa Geographica, complectens Indiae Occidentalis…

Title

Mappa Geographica, complectens Indiae Occidentalis…

Description

map of Central America, with the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, surrounded by detailed maps, plans and a view of Mexico City

ca. 1750

Artist

Homann Erben (1724-1780)

Johann Babtiste Homann (1664-1724) was born in Oberkammlach, the Electorate of Bavaria. Although educated at a Jesuit school, and preparing for an ecclesiastical career, he eventually converted to Protestantism and from 1687 worked as a civil law notary in Nuremberg. He soon turned to engraving and cartography; in 1702 he founded his own publishing house. Homann acquired renown as a leading German cartographer, and in 1715 was appointed Imperial Geographer by Emperor Charles VI. Giving such privileges to individuals was an added right that the Holy Roman Emperor enjoyed. In the same year he was also named a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin. Of particular significance to cartography were the imperial printing privileges (Latin: privilegia impressoria). These protected for a time the authors in all scientific fields such as printers, copper engravers, map makers and publishers. They were also very important as a recommendation for potential customers. In 1716 Homann published his masterpiece Grosser Atlas ueber die ganze Welt (Grand Atlas of all the World). Numerous maps were drawn up in cooperation with the engraver Christoph Weigel the Elder, who also published Siebmachers Wappenbuch. Homann died in Nuremberg. He was succeeded by the Homann heirs company, which was in business until 1848. The company was known as Homann Erben, Homanniani Heredes, or Heritiers de Homann abroad.

Historical Description

Central America includes Central America and the West Indies. On the land bridge, in addition to various indigenous languages, mainly Spanish is spoken due to the colonization. Exceptions are the English-speaking Belize and the east coast of Nicaragua, which is inhabited by English-speaking Creoles in addition to the indigenous peoples Miskito, Mayangna, Rama and Garifuna. There are also communities on the Caribbean coast of Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama in which mainly Creole English, similar to the Jamaican patois, is spoken. When Columbus landed on San Salvador (Bahamas) on behalf of the Spanish crown in 1492, he was primarily looking for gold and other riches. But the Arawak paid no attention to what Europeans viewed as wealth. So the Caribbean was settled, but the conquistadors were soon drawn to the American continent. Little by little the English, Dutch and French also settled. Even Denmark, Sweden and Courland owned a few colonies. St. Barthélemy was z. B. almost a century under Swedish rule. Most of the native Indians eventually fell victim to diseases or slavery that were brought in. The Caribbean was particularly active in the 17th and early 18th centuries for buccaneers and pirates (so-called golden age of piracy). The small islands offered the pirates, some of whom were freebooters on behalf of a king, numerous hiding places and the Spanish treasure fleets were a good and worthwhile target. Port Royal in Jamaica and the French settlement on Tortuga were downright pirate settlements.