Here is a batch of sixteenth century maps of the USA southeast. all; are effectively navigation maps locating bays and river mouths.. Actual inland information was likely acqired by interviewing locals at the river mouth with perhaps some effort at confirmation.
At the same time we are getting ample indication that free lancers, often in substantial groups were breaking into the country and setting themselves up in some manner. That after all usually meant having access to trade goods and a settlement agreement with a local tribe for shared protection.
Little of this had any semblance of Royal approval or consent and thus scant record..
Maps of the Southeast: 1544, 1562, 1566, 1570, 1578, 1584 & 1590
We thought that readers would enjoy seeing the evolution of maps
during the period when France, Spain and England were first exploring
Southeastern North America. These are the type of educational tools
that we will be using when POOF University (or whatever it will be called) gets going in 2016.
Note that on all Spanish, French, English and Dutch Maps, Fort
Caroline is located on the south side of the mouth of the Altamaha River
in Georgia. France NEVER claimed any land south of the St. Marys
River, which divides Florida and Georgia today. Both the myth of Fort
Caroline being located in Jacksonville and the myth of the Fountain
Youth being located in St. Augustine, were created by a New York
transplant, who had speculated in land near both of those towns in the
1840s.
Click maps to enlarge them to full size.
