Picturing Knowledge: Scientific Images in Printed Books (1450–1800)

"A Map of the American Indian Nations," in James Adair, The History of the American Indians: Particularly those Nations Adjoining to the Mississippi, East and West Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina, and Virginia . . . (London, 1775)


This map provides background information for Adair's exploration of North America. Placed at the beginning of the book, this engraving allows the reader to visualize the places and people Adair describes in detail in the text. It also provides contextual insight into the period: on the map, English names for cities take priority over Indigenous names, an attitude that sought to erase native presence in the region. Adair also included detailed territorial descriptions at the top, drawing focus away from the names of Indigenous cultures toward the bottom. (CF)

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