The Partitioning of the Globe between Spain and Portugal 1634

Willem Basse created this engraving, *The Partitioning of the Globe between Spain and Portugal*, in the 17th century. The image presents us with a symbolic, if contentious, moment in history. At its heart lies the globe, a representation of the world, and a map. These are potent symbols of dominion and knowledge. The Pope and other figures stand beside the table, overseeing the division of the world between Spain and Portugal. Consider how the globe here echoes the ‘mappa mundi’ of earlier times, maps that were not merely geographical tools but assertions of cultural and religious understanding. The act of partitioning the world is not new. We can observe similar divisions in ancient maps, where the world was often symbolically divided among rulers or gods. The evolution of this motif shows how cultures, across centuries, have sought to impose order and understanding on the world through visual representation. Here, the gesture of division becomes more than a political act; it is a psychological assertion, reflecting humanity's deep-seated need to understand and control its environment.