van Wytfliet, Cornelis. Hispania Nova. Louvain, 1597. [Mexico]

Cornelis van Wytfliet

Hispania Nova

Louvain, 1597

approx. 11 x 9 inches sheet

[Mexico]

The map *Hispania Nova*, created by Cornelis van Wytfliet in 1597, represents the Spanish colonies in the New World during the late 16th century. It is a part of *Wytfliet's* famous *"Descriptionis Ptolemaicae Augmentum,"* which is considered the first atlas dedicated exclusively to the Americas. The map is significant as it showcases the European understanding and interest in the geography of the New World during the Age of Exploration. The regions depicted include parts of present-day Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, areas of immense strategic and economic importance to Spain during this period. The map reflects the European perspective on colonial territories, emphasizing Spanish dominion and the geographical features that were of interest to explorers, cartographers, and colonial administrators. 

### Biography of Cornelis van Wytfliet

Cornelis van Wytfliet was a Flemish cartographer and historian, best known for his work *"Descriptionis Ptolemaicae Augmentum,"* published in 1597. Born in Louvain, in what is now Belgium, Wytfliet served as a secretary to the Council of Brabant, an influential governing body in the Spanish Netherlands. His interest in cartography and geography led him to compile and publish one of the earliest atlases dedicated solely to the Americas, a groundbreaking achievement at the time.

Wytfliet's work expanded upon Ptolemy's classical geography by incorporating the latest discoveries of the New World, reflecting the European fascination with and ambition towards the newly explored territories. His atlas included a series of maps that provided one of the most comprehensive early cartographic representations of the Americas, making it a valuable resource for historians, geographers, and collectors. Wytfliet's work remains a key historical document, illustrating the European understanding of the New World during the late 16th century and highlighting the early stages of colonial expansion.