Historical Maps of Brazil Through the Centuries

Historical Maps of Brazil

The history of Brazil can be told through maps that show the territorial changes that have taken place over the centuries. Since the beginning of the 16th century, various cartographies have depicted indigenous scenes, fauna, vegetation and the names given to the country, such as Terra de Santa Cruz, Terra Incógnita, Terra dos Papagaios and Brasil.

Cartographers such as Ruysch, Waldseemüller, Ortelius and Gastaldi recorded the first names and territorial disputes.

In the 16th century, maps show exchanges between the French and indigenous peoples, documented by André Thevet, who accompanied the creation of the Antarctic colony.

During the Iberian Union (1580-1640), the French, English and Dutch presence on the Brazilian coast increased.

The Philippine Crown encouraged Luso-Brazilian expansion beyond the Treaty of Tordesillas, recording new fortresses and cities on the maps of Cochado and Albernaz I.

In the 17th century, Portuguese manuscript cartography detailed the Brazilian coast, most notably the map of Albernaz II (1666), which highlighted São Paulo and the Jesuit missions in the south.

Between 1624 and 1654, Dutch cartography stood out with maps such as “Perfect Caerte der Gelegentheyt van Olinda de Pharnambuco Maurits-stadt ende t’Reciffo” by Cornelis Golijath.

In the 18th century, French cartography prevailed, with contributions from Guillaume de L’Isle and Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d’Anville. De L’Isle corrected errors in Portuguese calculations of Brazil’s longitudes, influencing the Treaty of Madrid (1750), which redefined borders and led to a vast cartographic production.

In the 19th century, the manuscript atlas “Guia dos Caminhantes” (1817) by Anastácio de Santana stands out, with maps of Brazil and Salvador.

The period saw an increase in cartographic production, covering provinces, hydrography and borders. In 1922, the Engineering Club published “Carta geographica do Brasil”, consolidating centuries of cartographic records.

Important historical maps of Brazil

Map by Juan de la Cosa (1500) – First representation of the Americas, including the northeast coast of Brazil.
Letter by Pero Vaz de Caminha (1500) – Description of the discovery of Brazil.
Mapa de Cantino (1502) – First detailed map of the Brazilian coast.
Map of Lopo Homem (1519) – Part of Miller’s Atlas, with great precision.
Mercator map (1569) – Influential in world cartography.
Map by João Teixeira Albernaz I (1640) – Showing the hereditary captainships.
Map by Guillaume Delisle (1703) – Detailed and widely used in Europe.
Map of the Treaty of Madrid (1750) – Redefined the borders between Portugal and Spain.
Map of the Empire of Brazil (1822) – Showing the territory after independence.
Cruls Map (1892) – Basis for the future capital, Brasilia.

Historical maps are essential tools for understanding the territorial, political and economic development of Brazil, from colonisation to the consolidation of the Republic.