Terra Australis, 1616


This map by Petrus Bertius in 1616 is more a work of speculation. Aristotle had considered that the World had to be balanced and so a landmass was probable on the underside of the world. When Magellan passed through the Straits of South America many speculated that the southern side (Tierra Del Fuego) was part of this unknown continent. This map actually names it Magellanica in his honour.


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by Stephen Luscombe