Karte des Atlantischen Oceans

Late 18th century German map of the North Atlantic.

Germany (or Austria, where the map was published) isn’t necessarily the first country that comes to mind when one thinks of the Atlantic Ocean. However, F.A. Schraembl’s map of the ocean and adjacent continents would have found a wide audience, even in landlocked portions of Europe. The importance of the Transatlantic trade to economic development in “the Old World” cannot be overstated – in the eye of a 18th century European, every river inlet is a potential harbor, every island a possible stopover to re-provision ships, and every “uncivilized” land is ripe for colonization and economic exploitation.

The image of the map fails to convey this flurry of economic activity, but place names (Gold Coast, Ivory Coast), geographic features (sand banks off Newfoundland) and rhumb lines give some indication of its presence. Interior details are sparse, but profile views of mountain chains in West Africa and early boundaries of the newly independent United States provide additional interest to the map.