1816 Thomson Map and Chart of Central America

This is John Thomson's beautifully hand-colored 1816 map of Central America, published in 1817 in his New General Atlas. It depicts the region as Spain's colonial empire in the Americas was unraveling as a result of the Napoleonic Wars.

A Closer Look

Central America is displayed from the Laguna de Términos in today's southern Mexico through the Isthmus of Panama to what is now northwestern Colombia. Waterways, mountains, settlements, silver mines, and other features are indicated throughout. An unnamed mountain in Panama is labeled 'both seas [oceans] may be visible from this Mt.' (also true of several other peaks, including the Volcán Barú, here as Varu). The unnamed territory shaded yellow towards top-left was the British trading colony at Belize, an operation of uncertain political and sovereign status. On water, islands, reefs, and hazards are noted in some detail.

Historical Context

Though Thomson could not have known it at the time, the map's title proved anachronistic as Spain's American empire was eroding beyond the point of restoration, and the captaincies and other administrative divisions seen here eventually became independent nation-states or regions therein. The dissolution of Spain's American empire was initiated by the Peninsular War and France's occupation of much of Spain. Spanish-descended elites in the Americas were initially motivated by loyalty to their king and country, but over time became increasingly influenced by liberal political ideals. With the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the struggle between a restored yet greatly weakened Spanish monarchy (and its allies in the Americas) and liberals, along with tensions between different regions of Spain's vast American empire, led to repeated wars within and between states, breaking up larger confederations such as Gran Colombia and the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata into nation-states roughly along the borders known to us today.

Publication History and Census

This map was engraved in 1816 for issue in the 1817 edition of Thomson's New General Atlas. It is independently cataloged in the holdings of roughly ten institutions, while Thomson's entire atlas is more widely distributed in institutional collections.