Imagining peripheries: English images of Patagonia (1527-1694)

Abstract

The waters of Patagonia came to play an increasingly important commercial, geographical and political role from the sailing of Ferdinand Magellan (1519-1522) onwards. This thesis examines English visions about Patagonia between 1527 and 1694, a time of growing colonial expansion, cultural exchange and national-identity building. Specifically, I argue that Patagonia was more than a mere forsaken periphery, but it was a fruitful place for English imagination. Drawing on a wide range of sources, both written and visual, manuscript and printed, I analyse how this material conveyed what was known and imagined about Patagonia in the English milieu. Rather than opposing categories, I argue that knowledge and imagination came together in the early modern construction of the world.

This research underscores the indispensable role of Patagonia in the larger maritime history. The region’s representation in English imagination not only facilitated maritime endeavours by fuelling curiosity and colonial ambitions, but also became instrumental in strategic planning, human and resource allocation, and geopolitical projects that sought to act upon the South Sea. By examining how circumstances, imagination, and imperial ambitions interacted with one another, this work presents Patagonia as a space where early modern English maritime aspirations, fears, and ambitions converged and crystallized. This dynamic interplay paints a novel picture of Patagonia in England’s maritime history, offering insights into the interdependence of exploration, cultural perception, and geopolitical ambition in shaping the world as the early modern English knew it.