India - Rich in Spices

This plate shows the large island of Java and the eastern coast of what is referred to as India. This is where Columbus and Vespucci thought they were when they arrived at Hispanola during their first journey in 1492 and mistakenly gave the name Indians to the inhabitants they found. The province of Tibet is highlighted at the top of the plate. The tropic of cancer and the equator show here as well. This region is the source of the silk, pepper and other valuable spices that they were seeking when they set out from Portugal.

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