Análisis cartográfico de los mapas de Francisco Gali para las Relaciones Geográficas del siglo XVI: Tlacotalpan y Coatzacoalcos (1580)

Two exceptionally precise maps from the 16th-century Relaciones Geográficas—those of Tlacotalpan and Coatzacoalcos (1580) by Francisco Gali—stand out for their meticulous metric-cosmographic techniques, offering rare examples of early scientific cartography in Hispanoamérica. Unlike typical colonial maps lacking rigor, Gali’s works, recognized for their accuracy comparable to European standards, were analyzed using modern cartographic tools and current geography. Findings reveal Tlacotalpan’s map has a planimetric precision error range of 1.3% to 25.8%, while Coatzacoalcos’s features dual scales (1:428,700 coastal and 1:181,200 fluvial), reflecting adaptive methodologies shaped by terrain and commissioning circumstances. This analysis underscores Gali’s mastery in blending navigation techniques with geographical documentation, providing invaluable insights into 16th-century cartographic practices.

Morato-Moreno, M., & Morato-Huerta, P. (2026). Cartographic analysis of Francisco Gali’s maps for the sixteenth-century Relaciones Geográficas: Tlacotalpan and Coatzacoalcos (1580). Boletín de La Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles, (109). https://doi.org/10.21138/bage.3789