Description
Description of the Paraguay River
Book Summary
This work offers an essential account of 18th-century South American exploration and cartography. José Quiroga, a sailor and Jesuit, presents a detailed geographical study of the Paraguay River and its surroundings, the result of scientific expeditions and border demarcation efforts. The reader will find a first-rate historical document that combines nautical observation, mathematical rigor, and a pioneering vision of the territory, revealing how geographical knowledge of a key region in South American history was forged.
What is it about?
The work collects the cartographic and reconnaissance work of the Paraguay River carried out by José Quiroga, a Galician sailor who became a member of the Society of Jesus. The text describes the course of the river and its basin, based on observations made during expeditions such as the one to the Patagonian coast (1745-1746) and, especially, the 1752 mission to rectify the boundary at the mouth of the Jaurú River according to the Treaty of Madrid. Quiroga precisely determined the location of thirty mission towns and cities such as Asunción, Corrientes, and Buenos Aires. His map Description of the Paraguay River, published in Rome in 1753, was a fundamental source for later South American cartography, influencing the works of Luis de la Cruz Cano de Olmedilla and Arrowsmith.
Main themes
- Exploration and cartography of the Paraguay River and the Río de la Plata basin in the 18th century.
- History of the Jesuit missions and their geographical location in the region.
- Delimitation of Spanish-Portuguese colonial borders according to the Treaty of Madrid (1750).
- Navigation, astronomy, and mathematical methods applied to geography.
- Scientific legacy of the Society of Jesus in South America.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is ideal for historians, geographers, and scholars of colonial America interested in historical cartography and the exploration of the territory. It is also of great value to readers passionate about the history of Jesuit missions, the expansion of the Spanish Empire, and border demarcation processes in the Southern Cone. It is an essential read for those looking for primary sources on 18th-century geographical knowledge.
What this book offers
- Access to an original cartographic and historical document that was key to the representation of South America.
- Detailed understanding of the scientific methods and expeditions that allowed for the mapping of the Paraguay River.
- Context regarding territorial disputes between Spain and Portugal and the role of the Jesuits in exploration.
- A fundamental piece for understanding the evolution of the historical geography of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil.
Technical specifications
- Author: Quiroga, José
- Publisher: Linkgua Digital
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: CLASSIC TEXTS, HISTORY OF AMERICA
- Collection: HISTORY-TRAVEL
- Binding: Paperback
- Edition date: October 2010
- Number of pages: 36
- Weight: 46 g
Editorial review
This edition of Description of the Paraguay River recovers a fundamental text of colonial cartography, offering a direct view of the work of a Jesuit explorer. Its brevity (36 pages) makes it an accessible read for those who wish to delve into the history of South American geography without the length of a major treatise. It is a reference work for specialists and a valuable testimony for enthusiasts of the history of science and exploration.