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The Mismapping of America

The Mismapping of America Geology & Geography

The Mismapping of America

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Description
The Mismapping of America presents and analyzes the significant cartographic errors that have shaped the history of the United States. Perhaps the most blatant error is the very name "America," that honors Amerigo Vespucci, who not only never set foot on North American soil, but also played no significant role in the discovery of South America. The appearance of the name "America" imprinted on a map ensured its permanence.Other significant errors explored in The Mismapping of America include Giovanni da Verrazzano's misinterpretation of Pamlico or Albermarle Sound for the Pacific Ocean, thereby suggesting the presence of an isthmus in the middle of the North American continent; the existence of a direct North West passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; the misconception that California was an island; and the insertion on Lake Superior of a fictitious island that is specifically referred to in defining the boundary of the United States. The inclusion of pertinent rare maps enhances this rich and revealing narrative of several intriguing episodes in the history of the geographic evolution of the United States.
Seymour I. Schwartz is the Distinguished Alumni Professor of Surgery at the University of Rochester, and an expert on the history of mapping America. He is the coauthor of Mapping of America and author of The French and Indian War 1754-1763: The Imperial Struggle for North America and This Land is Your Land.
Product details
Binding:
Paperback
Edition:
illustrated
Number of Pages:
256
Release Date:
2008-10-01
Publication Date:
2008-10-01
Publisher:
University of Rochester Press
Languages:
Original: English
ISBN10:
1580463029
ISBN13:
9781580463027
GPSR Manufacturer Reference:
Weight:
376 g
Height:
152 cm
Width:
229 cm
Thickness:
14 cm
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