Chart of the World Shewing the Religion, Population and Civilization of Each Country
Reproduction of 1818 vintage Chart of the World by James Wyld. James Wyld Sr. (1790-1836) was a British cartographer and one of Europe’s leading mapmakers who made many contributions to cartography.
Wyld has graded the levels of civilization on a scale of I-V with Europe predictably at the top and Africa at the bottom. Canada's population is described as 'English and French besides some cannibals'. To modern eyes the ethnographical categories are strange. While Greeks are mentioned, Bulgarians and Romanians are assumed to be Turks.
The map provides sweeping image of the world, subdivided into ethnic regions, colored by "The Principal Regions, with the presumed number of their Followers." West of the Coast of Spain, a note appears: There are among the Spaniards and Portuguese a number of Moors and converted Jews (at least in appearance). Below the Aleutian Islands, the following note appears: Among many American tribes their are neither temples nor idol nor any external form of worship, Some worship the sun as a principal divinity, and some honour the moon under the title of mother. To evil deities they present offerings, and sometimes sacrifice slaves and prisoners, to avert their displeasure. The map also includes numerous smaller notes around the map, including the following note north of Hawaii: It is probable, that this babarous custom of offering human victims, prevails in all, or most of the Islands in the Pacific Ocean. In the South Pacific, east of New Zealand, the following note appears: It is highly probable, that the practice of feeding on the bodies of enemies was originally prevalent in all the Islands of the Pacific Ocean, through it is not known, by positive and decisive evidence, to exist in any of them, except New Zealand. To the west of South Africa, the following note appears: The chief worship of the Jagas consists in frequent sacrafices of human victims, particularly children. To the east of Labrador, the following note appears: Esquimaux or Iskimo, is said to imply an easter of raw flesh. The following quote appears describing the map in Leigh's New Picture of London; or, A view of the Poltical, Religious Medical, Literary, Municipal, Commercial and Moral State of the British Metropolis: This valuable Chart well deserves a place in every library; for young people in particular it will be found highly instructing and entertaining. "
Available as:
24 x 16 inches
36 x 24 inches
Available on 180gsm matt poster paper
or 200gsm satin poster paper.
*Frame not included*
