Map of North America in 1500
In 1500 CE the atlas maps 5 states and empires with territory in North America. The largest by mapped territory was Crown of Castile, at about 412,242 km², followed by Later Mayan City-States. The map below is set to 1500 CE; the table lists every state shown, with the modern countries its borders covered.
- States Mapped
- 5
- Largest
- 412,242 km²
- Modern Countries Covered
- 7
- Longest Established
- 850–1500 CE
Map of North America in 1500 CE
Borders are drawn for 1500 CE. Drag the timeline to move to another year.
The Major Powers of 1500 CE
Later Mayan City-States
850–1546 CEThe Maya civilization was a Mesoamerican civilization that existed from antiquity to the early modern period. Known by its ancient temples and glyphs (script), the civilization is also noted for its art, architecture, mathematics, calendar, and astronomical system.
Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 187,745 km²
Aztec Triple Alliance
1429–1520 CEThe Aztec Empire, also known as the Triple Alliance or historiographically as the Tenochca Empire but most accurately known as the Mexica, was an alliance of three Nahua city-states: Mexico-Tenochtitlan, Tetzcoco, and Tlacopan. These three city-states ruled that area in and around the Valley of Mexico from 1428 until the combined forces of the Spanish conquistadores and their native allies who ruled under Hernán Cortés defeated them in 1521.
Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 177,091 km²
Michoacán
1305–1533 CEMichoacán, formally Michoacán de Ocampo, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán de Ocampo, is one of the 31 states which, together with Mexico City, compose the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia.
Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 73,732 km²
Haudenosaunee
1450–1782 CEThe Haudenosaunee Confederacy, also known as the Iroquois, is a confederacy of Iroquoian Indigenous peoples in northeast North America. They have also been called the Six Nations.
Mapped extent in 1500 CE: 72,218 km²
Descriptions are the opening of each state's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
States and Empires in 1500 CE
5 mapped, largest territory first. Dates are the span of each state's mapped borders.
| # | State | Mapped area | Dates | Modern countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crown of Castile | 412,242 km² | 1236–1515 CE | Spain, Dominican Republic |
| 2 | Later Mayan City-States | 187,745 km² | 850–1546 CE | Mexico, Guatemala, Belize |
| 3 | Aztec Triple Alliance | 177,091 km² | 1429–1520 CE | Mexico |
| 4 | Michoacán | 73,732 km² | 1305–1533 CE | Mexico |
| 5 | Haudenosaunee | 72,218 km² | 1450–1782 CE | United States, Canada |
1500 CE by Region
1500 CE: Quick Answers
- What empires and states existed in North America in 1500 CE?
- The atlas maps 5 states in North America in 1500 CE. The largest by mapped territory were Crown of Castile, Later Mayan City-States, Aztec Triple Alliance, Michoacán, Haudenosaunee.
- What was the largest empire in North America in 1500 CE?
- Crown of Castile had the largest mapped territory among states present in North America in 1500 CE, about 412,242 km², followed by Later Mayan City-States (187,745 km²). Areas are measured from the mapped borders and are approximate.
- What did the map of North America look like in 1500?
- In 1500 CE the map of North America was divided between 5 mapped states and empires. Crown of Castile held the largest territory, followed by Later Mayan City-States. Their borders covered parts of 7 present-day countries.
- How many states are shown on the map for 1500 CE?
- 5. The map shows the states recorded in the atlas's dated border dataset for that year; states and peoples absent from that dataset are not shown.