Map of South America in 1850
In 1850 CE the atlas maps 15 states and empires with territory in South America. The largest by mapped territory was Empire of Brazil, at about 7.82M km², followed by The British Empire. The map below is set to 1850 CE; the table lists every state shown, with the modern countries its borders covered.
- States Mapped
- 15
- Largest
- 7.82M km²
- Modern Countries Covered
- 58
- Longest Established
- 1516–1850 CE
Map of South America in 1850 CE
Borders are drawn for 1850 CE. Drag the timeline to move to another year.
The Major Powers of 1850 CE
Empire of Brazil
1822–1889 CEThe Empire of Brazil was a 19th-century state that broadly comprised the territories which form modern Brazil and Uruguay until the latter achieved independence in 1828. The empire's government was a representative parliamentary constitutional monarchy under the rule of Emperors Pedro I and his son Pedro II.
Mapped extent in 1850 CE: 7.82M km²
The British Empire
1706–1999 CEThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and colonisation attempts by Scotland during the 17th century.
Mapped extent in 1850 CE: 6.48M km²
Bolivia
1825–2024 CEBolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in central South America. Its geography primarily consists of an Andean region to the west and tropical lowlands to the east and north.
Mapped extent in 1850 CE: 1.81M km²
Argentine Confederation
1834–1929 CEThe Argentine Confederation was the last predecessor state of modern Argentina; its name is still one of the official names of the country according to the Argentine Constitution, Article 35. It was the name of the country from 1831 to 1852, when the provinces were organized as a confederation without a head of state.
Mapped extent in 1850 CE: 1.46M km²
Republic of New Granada
1834–1858 CEThe Republic of New Granada was a centralist unitary republic consisting primarily of present-day Colombia and Panama with smaller portions of today's Costa Rica, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru and Brazil that existed from 1831 to 1858. The state was created after the dissolution of Gran Colombia in 1830 through the secession of Ecuador and Venezuela.
Mapped extent in 1850 CE: 1.42M km²
Republic of Peru
1822–2024 CEPeru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered to the north by Ecuador and Colombia, to the east by Brazil, to the southeast by Bolivia, to the south by Chile, and to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean.
Mapped extent in 1850 CE: 1.37M km²
Descriptions are the opening of each state's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
States and Empires in 1850 CE
15 mapped, largest territory first. Dates are the span of each state's mapped borders.
1850 CE by Region
1850 CE: Quick Answers
- What empires and states existed in South America in 1850 CE?
- The atlas maps 15 states in South America in 1850 CE. The largest by mapped territory were Empire of Brazil, The British Empire, Bolivia, Argentine Confederation, Republic of New Granada, Republic of Peru.
- What was the largest empire in South America in 1850 CE?
- Empire of Brazil had the largest mapped territory among states present in South America in 1850 CE, about 7.82M km², followed by The British Empire (6.48M km²). Areas are measured from the mapped borders and are approximate.
- What did the map of South America look like in 1850?
- In 1850 CE the map of South America was divided between 15 mapped states and empires. Empire of Brazil held the largest territory, followed by The British Empire. Their borders covered parts of 58 present-day countries.
- How many states are shown on the map for 1850 CE?
- 15. 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.