Through this program, the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute promotes an understanding of the legacy and rich history of the Spanish-speaking world. Send an email to education@hispanicsociety.org to bring this program to your school.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Hispanic Society of America Museum and Library’s collection of early maps, charts, and globes is one of the most important to be found in the Americas, including unique examples not found elsewhere in North America. The Maps program centers on early history of the Americas using the museum’s maps and globes collection in four lessons. First, students gain practical knowledge of how to read a map and use coordinates. Second, students learn about the history of Hispanic culture in the Caribbean, including the Taínos and the first Spanish contact with the Americas. Third, the program focuses on the Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations. Students learn about Spanish contact and conquest in these regions. In the final class, students discuss how the use of maps has changed today and work on a related activity. Aligned with NYS Standards and created with the school curriculum in mind, this program is applicable to various disciplines including visual arts, social studies, and early history of Spanish heritage and teaches practical geographical skills as well as Spanish language. The program is designed for grades 9-12. This program is made possible by the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute.
Explore the Collection
Mappa Mundi, Juan Vespucci
This map was made in 1526 by Juan Vespucci, nephew of Amerigo Vespucci, the namesake of the continents of North and South America. A copy of the padrón real, it is a mappa mundi, a map of the world, that shows the breadth of Spanish knowledge of the Americas at the time.
Map of the Imperial Villa of Potosí
This video highlights a bifolium of an intricate map of Potosí, Bolivia, at one point one of the largest cities in the Americas due to its immense silver mine. The map both shows the early plans of a Spanish colonial city and illustrates the workers and industry of the mountain Cerro rico.
Map of Tequaltiche
This video focuses on the manuscript map of Tequaltiche from the village of Teocaltiche, in present-day Jalisco. It was created by the Caxcan people as part of the Relaciones Geográficas (Geographic Accounts) for King Philip II of Spain in 1584.
Map of the Ucayali River
The final map of the series is the map of the Ucayali River in Peru and one of its most remote regions of the Amazon rainforest. The legend at the bottom identifies Franciscan missions established up to 1807, the Ucayali tributaries, and the areas inhabited by the indigenous peoples: Anti (Asháninka), Cashibo, Chontaquiro, Conibo, Ipitineri, Panobo, Shetibo, and Shipibo.
