The Europeans set sail with accurate maps that showed their destinations
Accounts of first European explorers to reach land it is claimed they discovered
• Columbus’ “discovery” of the Americas: Letter from Toscanelli to Columbus. “. . . I notice your splendid and lofty desire to sail to the regions of the East by those of the West [i.e. to sail to China westabout] . . . as is shown by the chart which I send you . . .” [chart is excerpt of Portuguese 1428 Master Chart of the world showing Antilia].
Letter from Toscanelli to King of Portugal. “[before Christopher Columbus set sail] … from the island of Antilia known to you [Antilia is Puerto Rico discovered by Chinese in 1421] . . . to Cepangu [Japan] is…”
.Columbus’ log, Wednesday October 24th 1492 (when in W. Atlantic) “. . . I should steer west-southwest to go there [to reach Antilia] . . . and in the sphere which I have seen and in the drawings and mappae mundi it is in this region. . .”
Thus, according to Columbus, Caribbean islands appeared on Portuguese maps of the world (Mappa Mundae) before Columbus set sail.
• Cabral expedition to S. America. João de Barros arriving on the first expedition to S. America writes to King Manuel of Portugal: “ . . . The lands might the king see represented on the Mappa Mundi whom Pero daz Bisagudo has. . .” João continues that the only difference between Brazil the Portuguese have discovered in 1500 and Brazil shown on Bisagudo [da Cunha] ‘s earlier map was whether or not Brazil was inhabited.
Brazil had appeared on a Portuguese map before the first European expedition set forth.
• Dias and da Gama rounding the Cape of Good Hope. Dias’ chronicler describing their approach to the Cape of Good Hope. “. . . They came in sight of that Great and Famous Cape concealed for so many centuries. . .” This is the Cape drawn on Fra Mauro’s planisphere of 1459 (Fra Mauro was working for the Portuguese Government when making his planisphere).
Thus Southern Africa appeared on Fra Mauro’s map prepared for the Portuguese before the first European expedition reached the Cape.
• Magellan, “First circumnavigation of the world”. On entering “Straits of Magellan” Magellan faced a mutiny – his sailors would not continue. Magellan quelled it by saying: “. . . The Captain General said there was another Strait which led out [to the Pacific] saying he knew it well and had seen it in a marine chart of the King of Portugal . . .” Later, Magellan, having crossed the Pacific, met the King of Limasarra. Note from Magellan’s chronicler: “. . . And he [Magellan] shows him the marine chart . . . telling him how he had found the Strait to come hither . . .”
Thus, according to Magellan’s official chronicler, the so-called Straits of Magellan appeared on a Portuguese chart before Magellan set sail, as did the Pacific.
• Cook’s investigation of Australia and New Zealand. The ‘Dauphin’ map (1536) showing Australia was owned by the First Lord of the British Admiralty, Edward Harley. Dr Joseph Banks, who travelled with Captain Cook, bought it. Since Henry VIII’s day the British Government had owned the Jean Rotz chart which also showed Australia.
Australia was thus known to the Admiralty from two sources before Captain Cook set sail.
• Australia appeared on (Father Ricci’s map (1589) and on Hessel Gerritsz chart (1618 – Seville) (M Righton)
• The Pacific from Vancouver to “the Straits of Magellan” appeared on the Waldseemueller (1507) before Balboa “discovered” the Pacific.
• The Amazon appeared on the Piri Reis (1513[1501]) before Orellana “discovered” the river
• The Atlantic coastline of South America appeared on the Andrea Bianco map of 1448 before Columbus “discovered the continent.
View maps: Piri Reis, Pizzigano Nautical Chart, The Cantino world map, The Waldseemüller map, Virga World Map – 1410 map, Di Virga World Map – 1410
