Map Analysis

This map of Virginia, Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas is written in Latin. It seems to fairly accurate when compared to current maps. There are a fair amount of physical land features shown on this map. There are hills, mountains, rivers, forests, and lakes. The British and Spanish territories are marked by the countries respective coat of arms. The title of the map, which is located in the “western” side of the map, has drawings of the native people. These provide an idea of what they look like; the place on the map where they are located also shows where they predominantly now exist, west of European territories and settlements.

This map shows the increasing control and influence Europeans have over the Eastern coast of what will become the United States. There are still native names for some locations and the natives drawn on the map indicate that they are still there, but they are in the west. The eastern side of the map has predominantly European names and has signs of European control such as sailing ships. It also has angels on the east side of the map, possibly implying that the Europeans have God on their side. The natives are also dressed in a way that would be considered “primitive” by Europeans, which is part of the “characterization of Native Americans as uncivil, “savage,” “wild beasts...” This made it more acceptable for the Europeans to say that they should expand further west into native territory, to bring God and civilization to the “savage” natives.

http://www.libs.uga.edu/darchive/hargrett/maps/1640b55.jpg