Author: Bea Brommer

Publisher:

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 420

ISBN-13: 9789074861304

Containing some 420 pages and approximately 600 facsimile maps, plans and topographical drawings dating from the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries, most of which have never been published before, this pioneering work offers a complete picture of those parts of mainland Africa which at that time were included in the VOC's charter, e.g. the areas between the west coast of present-day South Africa and the Red Sea. The emphasis in this is obviously on the establishment in 1652 and later expansion of the Cape Colony and its outposts, but by way of an introduction a major section is dedicated to the Company's cartography of the sea routes around Africa from the Netherlands to the Far East, including the various islands in the Atlantic and the India Ocean that Dutch seafarers as a rule called at on their way to the East Indies. In addition, much attention is given to Mauritius, Madagascar and some other, smaller islands in the Indian Ocean, which for shorter or longer periods were also included within the Company's sphere of influence.