During the age of European exploration of the Western Hemisphere the driving forces were searching for a route to the East Indies, the acquisition of gold and other valuables and, later, land for settlement. Consequently, the Caribbean Sea and surrounding lands and islands first discovered by Columbus became one of the most mapped areas in the world. Several European countries such as Spain, Portugal, France, England and the Netherlands competed for what they thought would be the "riches of the Indies". Each one made contributions to the description and mapping of the area even after their recognition that the discoveries were a new land and not what they dreamed of discovering. However, they did benefit from the acquisition and settlement of the New World.

Florida was an important part of the picture because it constitutes over one fourth of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico which is the origin of the Gulf Stream. It is recognized as being part of the Caribbean as well as the southeastern United States. It was the site of the first permanent European Settlement in what is now the United States. It was also the route of entry for explorers of the southeastern mainland of

the North American continent. It was not officially "discovered" or named until 1513 when Juan Ponce de Leà visited it and named it Florida (for the Easter Holiday Pascua Florida) when he reached the shore. After that it was the name applied to the whole southern part of the continent on many maps. The introduction of other names and political competition for land acquisition led to variations in the size and shape of the area designated as Florida on the maps made in different countries.

The first part of this presentation, Florida Large and Small, shows examples of the differences in the size of the areas named Florida. Thereafter, we show images and descriptions of maps of Florida in chronological order:

• Discovery and First Spanish period (1500-1763)
• The English Period (1763-1783)
• Second Spanish Period (1783-1819)
• Territorial Period (1819-1845)
• Statehood and Later (1845- )