This map, created by French cartographer Nicolas Desliens, was published in 1566.

The purpose of this world map is to describe the hydrographic knowledge available in the mid-16th century. Among other things, it highlights a single river in Africa, whose main course closely resembles that of the Nile, although it has a tributary to the east that is labelled as the Niger.

The map also includes the coats of arms of France, Portugal, and Spain, which are distributed throughout the world according to the territorial claims of the various powers. The Portuguese coats of arms extend along the entire African coast to a vast territory that the author calls Java la Grande, which is mixed with the idea of Terra Australis.

In addition to all of the above, perhaps the main feature of this world map is that it is one of the few published in Europe in the 16th century that is oriented with the south at the top.

Sources

• World Map, 1566