description Juan de la Cosa Overview
Juan de la Cosa was a Spanish navigator and cartographer who created the 1500 Mappa Mundi, the earliest surviving map to explicitly show the Americas.
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What is Juan de la Cosa most famous for creating?
This Spanish navigator and cartographer created the 1500 Mappa Mundi, which is the earliest surviving map to explicitly show the Americas. The map was drawn on a large piece of parchment and incorporated data from Christopher Columbus's early voyages.
Did Juan de la Cosa personally sail with Christopher Columbus?
Yes, Juan de la Cosa served as the master and owner of the Santa Maria during Columbus's first historic voyage to the Americas in 1492. He later participated in other major expeditions, including mapping the coast of Central America.
Where is the original Juan de la Cosa map located today?
The historically priceless Mappa Mundi is currently housed in the Naval Museum (Museo Naval) in Madrid, Spain. It was discovered in a Parisian antique shop in 1832 and later purchased by the Spanish government.
How did Juan de la Cosa die?
He was killed by indigenous people in 1510 during a military expedition led by Rodrigo de Bastidas along the coast of present-day Colombia. He had been attempting to establish a settlement in the region of Turbaco.
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