Jodocus Hondius, America, 1619, Map of the Americas - detail of northern part of South America

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Date:1619

Description:Guiana, in South America was explored by men known to Shakespeare.

The Spanish ‘conquistadors’ who explored and sought to colonise the Amazon valley followed tales of a golden wealth beyond the wildest dreams of anyone in Europe. The English too sought to find fabled El Dorado (the Golden Land) and Walter Raleigh led an expedition in 1595, exploring four hundred miles up the Orinoco river, and also mapped part of the coast before his return to England. Raleigh’s second, disastrous, expedition to Guiana was in 1617-18. Although he travelled far into the interior of South America no treasures were discovered, but a colony in Guiana remained an English base, surrounded by the lands claimed by Spain and Portugal.

Full title: America Map of the Americas, from Gerard Mercator and Jodocus Hondius Atlas, France, 1619.](hand-coloured)


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1570s
Georg Braun and Franz Hogenberg, Londinium, c. 1572  - detail - decorative title panel
Georg Braun and Franz Hogenberg, Londinium, c. 1572 - detail - decorative title panel

'Londinium': ancient capital of Shakespeare's England. London had been founded ...

1590s
John Norden, The View of London Bridge from east to west, [1597]
John Norden, The View of London Bridge from east to west, [1597]

London Bridge, looking upstream in Shakespeare's time. London's medieval bridge ...

1610s
Jodocus Hondius, America, 1619 Map of the Americas - whole map, hand-coloured.
Jodocus Hondius, America, 1619 Map of the Americas - whole map, hand-coloured.

The Americas in the reign of James I, Shakespeare’s patron. Courtiers of ...

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Source: Shakespeare Birthplace Trust - Library

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