TIERRA INCOGNITA: THE SPANISH CARTOGRAPHY OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST, 1540-1803

This is a study of Spanish cartography of the American Southwest from 1540 to 1803. Special focus is given to what is now New Mexico, Arizona and parts of Chihuahua and Sonora. This study is more concerned with how and why the geography was recorded than the accuracy with which it was drawn. Non-Spanish maps are discussed only when they place Spanish cartography in a larger context or when they offer the only record of Spanish maps.;The Spanish tradition differs from the rest of Europe in its preference for large scale manuscript maps of relatively small areas. The major attention of this work is directed at this manuscript tradition. Spain also had a preference for pragmatic rather than theoretical cartography. Her approach was influenced by her role in Mediterranean trade and enhanced by a desire for secrecy, early bureaucratization, and economic interests of officials.;The maps of the northern frontier of New Spain were a mirror of Spain's aspirations. the desire for wealth, and the needs of mission support, frontier defense, and communication between distant outposts created a great demand for accurate maps. Jesuits, Franciscans, settlers, soldiers and the Royal Corps of Engineers all produced maps to meet this demand.;This manuscript tradition inhibited Spain's administration of the frontier. Maps were scarce and laborious to produce. The value of easier availability of maps for adminstration was recognized by the Spanish government when it tried to establish a map publishing industry in Spain in the mid-eighteenth century.;The first stage of the study is to look at maps as artifacts, that is, to examine their form and how they communicate information. Types of maps are defined and the use of elements such as color, symbols, projection, lettering, and methods of manufacture are examined. This is done to establish a systematic framework for the categorization and evaluation of the maps involved.;The final part of this study examines the history of printed maps in Spain. Maps of portions of the New World were printed in Spain as early as 1511, and maps were printed throughout the period of this study. However, they were scarce relative to the production of the rest of Europe. It was not until Tomas Lopez began publishing maps in the 1750's that Spain had a commercial map publisher. Because of the scarcity of Spanish printed maps it is necessary to examine more than just maps of the American Southwest to understand the function of printed maps within Spanish cartography. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.).