Renaissance mapmakers Terminology of the British Isles

the 1654 blaeu atlas of scotland, insulae albion et hibernia

abraham ortelius makes clear understanding england, scotland , ireland politically separate in 1570 full title of map: angliae, scotiae et hiberniae, sive britannicar. insularum descriptio ( representation of england, scotland , ireland, or britannic islands ). george lily s 1546 map divides britain 2 kingdoms of england , scotland, ireland alongside. maps period appear mark wales, , cornwall, separate areas within britain, while history of england created polydore vergil henry viii states, whole country of britain divided 4 parts, whereof 1 inhabited englishmen, other of scots, third welshmen , fourth of cornish people.

maps of mediaeval, renaissance , later periods referred albion. archaic term used ptolemy , pliny mean island of great britain. in later centuries meaning changed refer area call scotland (albany, or alba in gaelic). albion has survived poetic name britain not in everyday use.