Amara / Callao de Lima / Tutecorin / Le Fort Davphin / Malta / De Stadt Cananoor 1670 - 1672

This undated print by an anonymous artist depicts six different port cities: Amara, Callao de Lima, Tutecorin, Le Fort Davphin, Malta, and De Stadt Cananoor. Prints like this one played a crucial role in shaping European perceptions of the world during a time of burgeoning global trade and colonial expansion. Each view is carefully rendered, showing the cities as strategic nodes in a global network, but who is this for? The inclusion of cities in Asia, Africa, and South America reflects the increasingly global scope of European interest. These meticulously detailed cityscapes are framed through a lens of power, subtly emphasizing European dominance and control over these distant lands and seas. Consider how this image might have stirred feelings of both curiosity and superiority in its intended European audience. It's a visual assertion of a world brought into European view, ready for exploration, exploitation and conquest.