Portugal - O País Que Mais Contribuiu Para o Conhecimento Geográfico Da Terra. No Espaço de um Século Descobriu e Explorou Cerca de Dois Terços do Mundo Desconhecido. [Portugal - The Country That Has Contributed Most to the Geographic Knowledge of the Earth. In the Course of One Century, She Discovered and Explored About Two Thirds of the Unknown World.]
- Title:
- Portugal - O País Que Mais Contribuiu Para o Conhecimento Geográfico Da Terra. No Espaço de um Século Descobriu e Explorou Cerca de Dois Terços do Mundo Desconhecido. [Portugal - The Country That Has Contributed Most to the Geographic Knowledge of the Earth. In the Course of One Century, She Discovered and Explored About Two Thirds of the Unknown World.]
- Alternate Title:
- Portugal - The Country That Has Contributed Most to the Geographic Knowledge of the Earth
- Collection:
- Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection
- Creator:
- Araújo, Roberto
- Other Creators:
- "S.N.I." (Secretariado Nacional da Informação), publisher. Litografia Nacional, printer.
- Date:
- 1940
- Date 2:
- 2024-04-25
- ID Number:
- 2370.01
- File Name:
- PJM_2370_01.jpg
- Style/Period:
- 1940 - 1959
- Subject:
- Imperialism
Politics & Government - Measurement:
- 40 x 57 (centimeters, height x width)
- Notes:
- Antonio Salazar became the Prime Minister of Portugal's military dictatorship in 1932. He founded the authoritarian “Estado Novo” in 1933 and presided as Portugal’s strongman until 1974. Salazar was intensely focused on promoting the greatness of Portugal and the significance of its Empire, at home and abroad. Maps were a significant part of this effort, and the output of the Salazar regime “demonstrated how cartography can be used as a propaganda weapon in the nationalist and colonialist discourse.” Corkill 2009, 398. See generally ibid. and Cairo 2006.
Although there is some uncertainty about its date, it appears that this map was produced in connection with the "Exposição do Mundo Português" (Portuguese World Exhibition) of 1940, a major event commemorating both the foundation of the Portuguese state in 1140 and its independence from Spain in 1640. The Salazar regime "employed history as a means to justify and legitimize its seizure and exercise of power. . . . By 1940 history had become state propaganda, and the commemorations offered an opportunity to inculcate a historical consciousness among the public." Corkill 2009, 387. To that end, "Hundreds of maps adorned the walls of the pavilions and rooms" of the exhibition "to reinforce the Estado Novo's contention that the nation and the empire were inextricably and inalienably entwined." Ibid. 398. "The use of world maps was "abundant . . . , and some of them were imposing and dramatic." Cairo 2006, 376.
This map is indeed dramatic, filled with the tracks of Portuguese explorers in the age of discovery, rhumb lines, five compass roses, strong fonts and ample use of red and gold. The title and text surrounds the map on all sides: "Portugal - The Country That Most Contributed to the Geographic Knowledge of the Earth. In the Course of One Century, She Discovered and Explored About Two Thirds of the Unknown World." The voyages shown include those of João Martins (1588), João Rodrigues Cabrilho (1542), Pedro Fernandes de Queiroz (1606), Fernão de Magalhães (1520), Gaspar Corte Real (1501), Álvares Fagundes (1500), Estevão Gomes (1525), Diogo Cão (1482-85), Bartolomeu Dias (1486-1487), Vasco da Gama (1497-1498), Pedro Alvares Cabral (1500), Afonso de Albuquerque (1507), António de Abreu (1501), Francisco Serrão (1501), Jorge Álvares (1514), M. Godinho Erédia (1601), António da Mota (1542), João Vaz de Torres (1606) and David Melgueiro (1660).
The mapmaker was Roberto Araújo Pereira (1908-1969), a well-respected Portuguese artist of the time, whose work also appeared in the Portuguese pavilion of the 1939 New York World's Fair. The verso bears a small stamp: "Oferta do S.N.I.," indicating that the work was published by the Secretariado Nacional de Informação, the government propaganda agency established by Salazar in 1933.
In addition to this Portuguese-language version, the map was also published with the text in English. OCLC shows very few copies of either version, but many more of those in English (which might have been produced at a later time, or in greater quantity).
For other Salazar-regime propaganda maps, see “Portugal Is Not a Small Country,” 1934 (ID ##1237, 1238, 2120 & 2256).
For further information on the Collector’s Notes and a Feedback/Contact Link, see https://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/content/about-collection-personal-statement and https://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/content/feedback-and-contact - Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- For important information about copyright and use, see http://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/copyright.