By Anna Xie
This map details the first edition of Aaron Arrowsmith’s map of South America which was made in 1811. It is the most detailed map of the Spanish Latin American Wars of Independence (1810-1821). This intricate map of Latin America was created during the Late Enlightenment Era. The map is divided into six sheets; combined together, it’s over 6.5 x 4.5 ft (1.98 x 1.31 m).
The coastlines were determined by the latest sea charts at the time and trigonometric surveys. The mountain ranges were only recently mapped when this map was created. The political divisions that were made during the Latin American Wars of Independence stand out in the cartography as well. The map marks the Captaincy General of Caracas (Venezuela), the Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada (modern Colombia and Ecuador), the Viceroyalty of Peru (modern Peru and Bolivia), the Captaincy General of Chile (modern Central Chile) and the Viceroyalty of La Plata (modern Northern Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay). There are numerous Portuguese Brazilian Captaincies; they include Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
While not all the sources of the map can be traced, it is true that Arrowsmith had access to the British official Archives and cartography. His maps are the improved version of Louis Stanislas d’Arcy Delarochette’s Colombia Prima or South America (London, 1807). This map shows the latest surveys and technology at the time.