Abraham Ortelius — Epitome du theatre du monde (1601)

That this entire hemisphere (which is called America today, and on account of its immense size, the New World) should have remained unknown to the ancients until the year 1492 after the birth of Christ, when it was first detected by Christopher Columbus the Genoese, seems to exceed the measure of human wonder. For having considered both the diligence of the ancients in describing the globe of the earth and the convenience and opportunity of the most ample empires for seeking out regions; and then the dire and insatiable greed of the human race for gold and silver, leaving nothing untried to possess those things in which these regions abound in incredible supply; we have wondered more than once that it could have remained hidden from our world for so long. There are those who opine that this Continent was described by Plato under the name of Atlantis; and Marinæus Siculus says in his Chronicle of Spain that an ancient coin marked with the effigy of Augustus Caesar was found here in the gold mines, and sent to the supreme Pontiff in proof of the matter by Lord John Rufus, Archbishop of Consentino.

This whole part of the world is circumnavigated today, except for that tract which faces the north, the shores of which have not yet been traversed. From the north, it descends into the south in the form of two peninsulas, which are distinguished by a narrow isthmus. That peninsula which is more northerly comprises New Spain, the Mexican province, the land of Florida, and the New Land original: "Terra Nova" (Newfoundland). The more southerly one (which is called the mainland by the Spaniards) contains Peru and Brazil.

A map of the Americas joined by an isthmus. To the west is the "South Sea, or Pacific Ocean," which contains a small illustration of a three-masted sailing ship labeled "Victoria ship." To the east is the "North Sea." Key regional labels include Quivira, Anian, New Spain, Florida, New France, Peru, Chile, Brazil, and Caribana. Geographic features like the "Amazon river" and the "Strait of Magellan" near "Land of Fire" are marked.