The Hidden Portuguese Elements: Cultural Insensitivity
As written in Maps, Knowledge, and Power:
For maps, iconology can be used to identify not only a “surface” or literal level of meaning but also a “deeper” level, usually associated with the symbolic dimension in the act of sending or receiving a message (Harley 54)
There are a few elements of this map that together show the lack of cultural sensitivity exercised by the Portuguese as colonists. The first is the Western-style representation of the houses that I referenced on the previous page, which can be interpreted as a sign of colonial attempts at cultural assimilation.
Moreover, the labels on this map are completely in Portuguese. If we look closely at the labeled names, they do not correspond to any local names. Perhaps most striking is the name in the title: Mombaim. Typically, in Portuguese, Mumbai was called Bombaim, a derivative of Bom Bahia ("good bay") (1). However, here, there is an odd hybrid between Mumbai and Bombaim, suggesting tension between the Portuguese and the locals. It feels as if the Portuguese may have heard the local name though did not take care to spell it completely correctly. Alternatively, this spelling could have been developed in order to show Portugal’s influence over the city. If that were the case, the use of "Mombaim" certainly sends a message that the Portuguese did not care much for the local culture.
Additionally, the map focuses primarily on military features. Where are the people and their cultural centres? The only depiction is to the left in Crop #4, where we see a few Western houses. Are there local houses that existed in the traditional style, and not in the Western style as is depicted? The lack of any other content suggests that the Portuguese were not interested in the local people or their way of life. The Portuguese were Catholic and forced most locals to convert to Christianity. Additionally, intermarriage between the colonists and the locals was encouraged, leading to a lot of cultural assimilation. Ultimately, the depiction of these Western-style houses on the maps suggests that instead of a blending of culture, there was an imposition of Western culture instead. This reflects the colonial attitude and how they were primarily in possessing this region and maintaining control of it because of its geographical access to the spice trade.
Click on the individual images to view fullsize and annotations (corresponding to the text below).
Lastly, if we look at this map relative to others of the era, it is clear that it followed quite a typical style. These three maps are characterized by:
- simplified terrains (1)
- small, colourful illustrations (2)
- small clusters of military buildings (3), and
- flags (4)
These maps represent the colonial mindset and ignorance it posed towards local cultures. The appropriation (and often misappropriation) of local cultures and ways of life are clear through the simplifications, omissions, and errors in these maps.