Brazil in pre-Portuguese cartography

Abstract

The name Brazil is known almost since the twelfth century, quoted in various legal documents, lists of tariffs and trade, mainly in Italy and France ancient. As a place name, the name is present in Brazil cartographic references from at least 1325, on a map due to the Genoese cartographer Angellinus Dalorto coming to repeat its representation widely until the fifteenth century, without being related to the new discoveries that have occurred over the new continent, especially in documents prepared by cosmographers of Italian and Catalonia. Research shows and an extensive bibliography cites the existence of the toponym cartographic references, mainly as an island with names on a variety of spellings, including: Brazil, Berzil, Brace, Brazil, Brace, Brasillis, Brezill, Brazail. This paper aims to show the mapping pre Lusitanian, with its references to Brazil, where they can be accessed for study. This will show the main factors that were to influence the Portuguese cartography, immediately after discovery. On the other hand aims to promote and inform about this area of historical and cartographic research, as a motivation for a new generation of researchers.