How Ancient Maps Reflect the Territorial Changes in Portugal

Ancient maps serve as historical documents that offer a unique glimpse into how geographic boundaries, territorial control, and cultural understanding of the world evolved. For ancient Portugal, known primarily as Lusitania during Roman times, maps provide an insightful look at how the region's boundaries shifted due to factors like tribal conflicts, Roman expansion, Visigothic conquests, and later, Moorish incursions. From the earliest maps of the Iberian Peninsula to medieval interpretations of Europe, each map serves as a testament to political ambitions, cultural exchange, and shifting perspectives over the centuries.

This post explores the progression of ancient maps depicting Portugal, highlighting the most influential changes and interpreting what they reveal about the history of territorial changes in Portugal.

I. The Earliest Maps of the Iberian Peninsula: Pre-Roman and Proto-Historic Perceptions

The oldest maps that depict the Iberian Peninsula date back to around the 6th and 5th centuries BCE. These maps, largely conceptual and based on the limited geographical knowledge of early Greek and Phoenician mariners, were rudimentary compared to later Roman and medieval cartography.

A. Greek and Phoenician Influence

Greek Maps of Iberia: Greek geographers and explorers like Hecataeus of Miletus began mapping the Mediterranean world in the 6th century BCE. The Iberian Peninsula, shown as a landmass on the edge of the known world, was depicted primarily as a source of mineral wealth, with little detail about internal divisions or tribes.
Phoenician Maritime Cartography: Phoenicians, known for their extensive trading network, produced maps that showed coastal trading routes rather than inland territories. Early Phoenician maps emphasized harbors, islands, and navigational landmarks, illustrating the coast of Iberia as a series of settlements, many of which would later become significant Roman or Portuguese towns.

B. Interpretation of Lusitania’s Early Borders

Ancient Greek and Phoenician maps did not clearly define Lusitania or Portugal as distinct territories, but they marked the western coastal regions with labels that hinted at local tribes and resources. These early representations were crucial in establishing the idea of Iberia as a mineral-rich and strategically located land, influencing later Roman interest in the area.

II. Roman Maps and the Definition of Lusitania

The Roman conquest of Iberia in the 2nd and 1st centuries BCE brought a more systematic approach to mapping, with a focus on incorporating new territories into the Empire. Lusitania, as a Roman province, became one of the most clearly defined territories on Roman maps.

A. Roman Cartography: Defining Lusitania’s Borders

Agrippa’s Map and the First Depiction of Lusitania: Marcus Agrippa, a Roman general and geographer, produced one of the first systematic maps of the Roman Empire around 20 BCE. His map identified Lusitania as a distinct Roman province, stretching from the Tagus River in the north to the Guadiana River in the south, with its western boundary along the Atlantic coast.
The Peutinger Map: The Peutinger Map (Tabula Peutingeriana), a 13th-century copy of a Roman map from the 4th century CE, provides a remarkable view of Roman roads and cities across the empire. Lusitania is prominently displayed, with key cities like Olissipo (Lisbon), Conímbriga, and Emerita Augusta (Mérida) marked, underscoring the Roman administrative and military presence in the region.
Military and Economic Significance: Roman maps emphasized Lusitania’s strategic role in the empire, highlighting resources like copper, tin, and gold, as well as agricultural zones. By defining Lusitania as a province, Rome solidified its territorial claims, laying the foundation for the region's later development under Roman law, infrastructure, and culture.

B. Key Changes in Territorial Boundaries

As Roman influence expanded, so did the concept of Lusitania’s boundaries. Early Roman maps encompassed only the westernmost tribes, but as Rome extended its influence, the province of Lusitania grew to include southern Iberian territories, reflecting both political consolidation and military victories over local tribes.

III. Medieval Maps and Shifts Due to Germanic and Moorish Invasions

Following the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century CE, the Iberian Peninsula underwent significant territorial shifts as Germanic tribes and later Moorish forces invaded and settled the region. Medieval maps from this period reflect these changes in control, often blurring the boundaries established under Roman rule.

A. Visigothic Control and Its Impact on Territorial Maps

Visigothic Expansion: By the 6th century, the Visigoths had taken control of Lusitania, integrating it into their broader Iberian kingdom. Medieval maps from this period, often created by monastic scribes, rarely detailed Lusitania but instead displayed Iberia as a whole under Visigothic rule.
Incorporation into Christian Cartography: As Christianity spread, maps became more symbolic, focusing on religious significance over geographic accuracy. Lusitania’s precise boundaries faded, replaced by general illustrations of Christian kingdoms that served as visual tools for the church’s influence.

B. Moorish Invasion and the Redefinition of the Iberian Peninsula

Al-Idrisi’s Maps: In the 12th century, the Muslim cartographer Al-Idrisi created the “Tabula Rogeriana,” one of the most detailed maps of the medieval world. His map shows the Iberian Peninsula divided between Christian and Muslim territories, marking cities like Lisbon and Evora under Muslim control and highlighting the fluid nature of boundaries due to military conflicts.
Reconquista Influence: Maps from the Reconquista period reflect shifting control as Christian forces reclaimed territories from Muslim rulers. Portuguese maps began to distinguish themselves from Spanish territories, showing emerging divisions that would later solidify into modern Portugal’s borders.

IV. The Formation of Portugal as a Kingdom and Its Reflection on Maps

The 12th century marked a defining period when Portugal emerged as a distinct kingdom. Cartographers began to identify Portugal as a unique territory, with maps reflecting this newfound autonomy.

A. King Afonso Henriques and the Establishment of the Portuguese Kingdom

First Portuguese Territorial Maps: As Portugal asserted independence from the Kingdom of León in 1139, early maps started marking Portugal’s separate borders. The earliest maps of Portugal, such as the "Mappa Mundi" from this period, show the kingdom stretching from the Minho River in the north to Lisbon in the south, which had been reclaimed from Muslim control.
Shift in Boundaries and Treaties: Treaties like the Treaty of Zamora (1143) established Portugal as a sovereign kingdom, with maps soon reflecting these borders. This consolidation was significant for defining Portugal as a politically independent entity with borders close to its current configuration.

B. Medieval European Cartography and the Recognition of Portugal

Portolan Charts: In the 13th and 14th centuries, portolan charts, navigational maps focused on coastlines and ports, emerged. These charts depicted Portugal’s coastline with unprecedented accuracy, highlighting key ports like Lisbon and Porto, which had become prominent in trade.
Symbolic Borders and National Identity: Medieval maps often included symbols of Portugal, such as royal crests or distinctive icons for Lisbon. By visually distinguishing Portugal, these maps reinforced a national identity that further separated it from neighboring Spain.

V. The Lasting Legacy of Ancient Maps in Understanding Portuguese History

Ancient and medieval maps of Portugal reveal the region’s evolving boundaries, shifting political allegiances, and economic importance. Each map, while limited by the geographic knowledge of its time, captures a unique moment in Portugal’s history and reflects the priorities and perceptions of the mapmakers.

A Record of Conquests and Cultural Exchange: From Phoenician coastal maps to Roman military depictions and medieval religious charts, the maps demonstrate Portugal’s long history as a crossroads of trade, culture, and conflict.
Understanding Shifting Identities: The progression of maps—from depicting Lusitania as a Roman province to later representing Portugal as a distinct kingdom—illustrates the region's shifting identity. Each territorial change recorded in ancient maps reflects the complex interactions of local and foreign powers that shaped Portugal’s history.
Influence on Modern Boundaries: The process of defining Portugal's borders continued for centuries, but ancient maps laid the groundwork by highlighting the region’s natural borders, trade centers, and military strongholds, all of which played a role in establishing the modern Portuguese state.

Conclusion: Ancient Maps as Historical Narratives

Ancient maps are more than just geographical representations; they are historical narratives that chart Portugal’s transformation from a loosely defined region to a distinct kingdom with its own identity. The influence of Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and early Portuguese kings is visible in the shifting borders and newly founded settlements represented on these maps. Studying these ancient maps allows us to trace the historical forces that shaped the unique identity of Portugal, providing insight into how geography and politics intertwined to form the modern nation we know today. Through maps, the legacy of ancient Portugal endures, offering a visual testament to its rich and complex history.