The first known map of the Portuguese territory, made by the cartographer Fernando Álvaro Seco, is still a mistery as to exactly how and when it was drawn.
The chart was commissioned somewhere around the year of 1560 by Aquiles Estacio to discuss the diplomatic relations between Portugal and Santa Fé.
The first editions of the map were in scales 1:200.000 and 1:750.000, the oldest known as the “Roman edition”.
It was due to this chart that the rest of Europe could better know the Portuguese territory and include it in the maps of the continent from 1570 on.
Cartographic generalizations
In the graphic representation are indicated cities and towns, political and ecclesiastical centers, rivers, bridges and land contour. Because of some cartographical generalizations some information is not present on the chart.
The orientation is also unusual, with the upper part of the map pointing west. Distortions are clear due to the surveying methods used at the time.
The connection between this chart by Fernando Álvaro Seco and the census taken between the years of 1527 and 1532 has also been investigated, but the source of the data which originated the chart is still a mistery to cartographers.
->The Fernando Álvaro Seco Map