Maps, Location, and Cartographers

1. Ancient Maps of the Southwest

Context: This map illustrates early European cartographic representations of the American Southwest from the 16th and 17th centuries, created by Spanish explorers who documented the region as part of New Spain. These early maps were crucial for Spanish colonial expansion and trade route establishment, though they reflected limited knowledge of the interior geography.

2. Trade Routes and Historical Interactions

Context: This map displays the complex network of trade routes that connected Arizona to neighboring regions throughout history, including ancient Native American trading paths, Spanish mission trails, and the Camino Real. These routes facilitated cultural exchange and economic interactions between Arizona, Mexico, California, and other southwestern territories.

3. Continental Position and Latitudinal Range

Context: This map shows Arizona's geographical location within North America and its latitudinal extent, spanning approximately from 31°20'N to 37°N in the southwestern United States. This latitudinal position contributes to Arizona's diverse climate, ranging from desert conditions in the south to alpine environments in the northern highlands.

4. Modern Topographic Map (Albers Equal Area Conic Projection)

Context: This modern map of Arizona uses the Albers Equal Area Conic projection, which preserves area accuracy and minimizes distortion for mid-latitude regions. The map displays Arizona's diverse topography, including the Colorado Plateau, Basin and Range Province, Grand Canyon, and Sonoran Desert.

5. Boundary Changes Over Time

Context: This map illustrates the territorial evolution of Arizona from Spanish colonial times through statehood, showing the shifting boundaries of New Spain, Mexican territory, the Gadsden Purchase of 1853-1854, and the formation of the Arizona Territory in 1863. These boundary changes reflect political negotiations and land purchases that shaped the modern state before it achieved statehood in 1912.

1. Continental Location and General Area

Arizona is located on the continent of North America, in the southwestern United States. The state is part of the larger region known as the American Southwest and occupies a strategic position between the Pacific Coast and the interior plains.

2. Latitudinal Range

Arizona spans a latitudinal range from approximately 31°20'N to 37°N, placing it entirely within the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. This latitudinal range contributes to the state's diverse climates and ecosystems, from Sonoran Desert in the south to high-elevation forests and alpine environments in the north.

3. Time Periods of Existence

Arizona has existed as a distinct political entity in several forms throughout history: as part of New Spain (1540-1821), Mexican territory (1821-1848), the U.S. Arizona Territory (1863-1912), and as a U.S. state since 1912. The region was inhabited by various Native American cultures for thousands of years before European contact, including the Ancestral Puebloans, Hohokam, Apache, Navajo, Hopi, and Tohono O'odham nations.

4. Famous Cartographers

Father Eusebio Francisco Kino (1645-1711)

Father Eusebio Francisco Kino was a Jesuit missionary, explorer, and cartographer who arrived in New Spain in 1681 and spent the remainder of his life exploring and mapping the region known as Pimería Alta (present-day southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico).

Cartographic Accomplishments: Kino's most significant achievement was proving that Baja California was a peninsula, not an island, and he created detailed maps documenting the geography, river systems, and Native American settlements of the American Southwest. His maps were among the first accurate European representations of the interior region and influenced subsequent Spanish exploration and colonization.

John Wesley Powell (1834-1902)

John Wesley Powell was an American geologist, explorer, and cartographer who played a crucial role in mapping the American West, particularly the Colorado River and Grand Canyon regions of Arizona, after losing his right arm in the Civil War.

Cartographic Accomplishments: Powell's most famous achievement was leading the first documented expedition down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in 1869, producing detailed maps and surveys of the Colorado River basin. As the second director of the U.S. Geological Survey (1881-1894), he oversaw systematic mapping of the western United States and his work provided the foundation for later topographic mapping efforts.

Clarence King (1842-1901)

Clarence King was an American geologist and the first director of the U.S. Geological Survey (1879-1881), whose work significantly influenced cartographic and geological understanding of the American West, including Arizona.

Cartographic Accomplishments: King led the Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel, which included mapping and surveying large portions of the western United States. His systematic approach to geological and topographical mapping set standards that would be used in mapping Arizona and established the foundation for detailed topographic maps of the region.