1600's European Maps of North America and The Sea of China

1600's English & French Maps of
America and the Sea of China

Europe, outside of Spain, had no knowledge of the
"Sea of China," today's Great Lakes, as late as 1667

England (map above) and France (map below) continued their search for a Northern Passage (and thereby a route to China) as late as the 1600's. They had NO KNOWLEDGE of DeSoto's discovery: that the "sea" which natives reported to northward was actually a great lake. Spain had kept that information secret. While England and France continued their search for that passage, Spain and Portugal continued their New World plunder.

The Sea of China - France, 1600

Europe, outside of Spain, had no knowledge of the"Sea of China," today's Great Lakes, as late as 1667

Europe, outside of Spain, had no knowledge of the
"Sea of China," today's Great Lakes, as late as 1667