The World as it looked in 1818 According to a Map by Major James Renell and John Walker

The World as seen by Major James Renell

It is amazing to see how different the world looked in the year 1818, and it is even more amazing to see how the cartographers were able to depict the world at a time when they did not have Google Earth. The world looked different all those years ago, and it is interesting to look at the differences because they show how the world was in the process of being discovered. Ethiopia spanned across all of Africa, India was named, 'Hindoostan' and it stretched beyond its present boundaries. Looking at the map depicting today's India I was surprised to see outlandish names of places. The world was different in those days and looking at images of a map of 1818 brought in the thrill of the romance of discovery, adventure and travel. I am sharing a few rare photographs of a world Atlas as printed in the year 1818 - a tribute to Major James Renell's extensive understanding of Geography dedicated to him by his 'Humble & devoted servant John Walker'.

In those days Ethiopia and India looked so different! A close up of Africa will show the name, 'Ethiopia spread out on most of the continent. Perhaps it was all about not knowing the names of all the countries that formed the continent. I guess, though, that Ethiopia was known more than all the other countries, probably because of its strategic position, or perhaps the fact that Queen Sheeba was Ethiopian. The atlas provides evidence that while Asia and the Americas were well explored, little was known about Africa. Africa, in the year 1818 was the mysterious continent, a continent waiting to be discovered and thus exploited!

Indeed, the Indian continent looked so different, what with names that sound so strange today! I wonder what 'Candeish' as mentioned in the map meant. Moreover, Gurgaon, the city where I live in doesn't even figure on the map.

How did the world look then? Strange, indeed! India was a huge continent, a testimony to the influence that the country had in those times. No wonder, the East India Company wanted exclusive commercial rights to the country.

The map stands as testimony to the fact that very little was known about the North Pole and the landmass situated there. One can only remember the adventures of the expeditions undertaken to explore the North Pole, many of which failed in their objectives. The world in 1818 was still being discovered and the romance of exploration has been described in numerous accounts in those days.

North America looked more or less the same as we know it today, although the legends, Panis Indians, Republican Indians, Wolf Indians, Aclon Indians and Chaguienne Indians don't make sense today, I guess they refer to Native Indian Settlements in those times. Today, none or very few of these settlements remain and of the sizeable populations of Native Indians, very few remain, number a few thousands. This, in itself, is an example of marginalised communities being edged out by mainstream communities. The settlers in America gradually took over the country that had belonged to an ethnic community by force, through cash inducements, cultural chauvinism, and various other means, dubious or deceptive. The Indians were victims of the conflict between the Democrats and the Republicans, and various other conflicts involving the settlers and the original residents of the land. 

The map of South America seems to have names of countries that don't figure in today's maps.