Kaart van het Koninkrijk Napels c. 1633 - 1680

Editor: Here we have "Kaart van het Koninkrijk Napels," or "Map of the Kingdom of Naples," an engraving made anonymously sometime between 1633 and 1680. It's incredibly detailed, and quite beautiful in its own way. What strikes you when you look at this map? Curator: I see a powerful statement about knowledge and control. Maps like this weren't just geographical tools, they were political tools. Consider the act of mapping: who gets to define the borders? Who gets to name the places? Editor: It's like saying, "This is ours," through representation. Curator: Exactly. And in the 17th century, the Kingdom of Naples was a highly contested territory. Spain controlled it for much of this period, but with local nobles always vying for power. Look at the elaborate coat of arms at the bottom. What do you think it communicates? Editor: Legitimacy? Authority? That the mapmaker had some sort of affiliation or agenda? Curator: Precisely. It’s asserting a particular power structure. These maps also played a role in shaping European identity by defining 'other' territories and peoples. How do you see the role of cartography influencing narratives and power structures? Editor: That makes so much sense. I never really thought about a map as being something with its own kind of bias, a product of power. This map isn't just showing us a place, it's telling us who it belongs to. Curator: Right! Every map is a claim. Next time, think about what the map *isn't* showing, too. Who is left off the map? What voices are excluded in its creation? Editor: Wow. This gives me a whole new perspective to bring to my other classes. Thank you!