Historical map · 1850

Map of South America in 1850

In 1850, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 15 states, empires and other polities in South America. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were the Empire of Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina. The British Empire reached well beyond South America: its whole territory measured about 11.8 million km².

See this map live. The interactive map opens on South America in 1850. Zoom in, move the year slider to watch the borders change, or ask the history guide a question and it draws the answer on the map.

OPEN 1850 ON THE MAP →Ask the history guide about 1850

Atlas map: 1848: The Springtime of Peoples (Mar 1848) — FROM THE ATLAS · THE AGE OF REVOLUTIONS, CHAPTER 12: 1848: THE SPRINGTIME OF PEOPLES (MAR 1848)

States and empires in South America in 1850

State	In this region	Whole state	In the data
Empire of Brazil Wikipedia	7.8 million km²	7.8 million km²	1822–1889
Bolivia Wikipedia	1.8 million km²	1.8 million km²	1825–2024
Argentina Wikipedia	1.5 million km²	1.5 million km²	1834–1929
Republic of New Granada Wikipedia	1.4 million km²	1.4 million km²	1834–1858
Republic of Peru Wikipedia	1.4 million km²	1.4 million km²	1822–2024
Venezuela Wikipedia	939,000 km²	939,000 km²	1811–2024
Paraguay Wikipedia	323,000 km²	323,000 km²	1811–2024
Republic of Chile Wikipedia	305,000 km²	305,000 km²	1812–2024
Republic of Ecuador Wikipedia	254,000 km²	264,000 km²	1834–2024
Oriental Republic of Uruguay Wikipedia	181,000 km²	181,000 km²	1828–2024
Surinam (Dutch colony) Wikipedia	150,000 km²	150,000 km²	1820–2024
British Empire Wikipedia	111,000 km²	11.8 million km²	1706–1999
French Second Republic Wikipedia	86,000 km²	1.5 million km²	1848–1852
Spanish Empire Wikipedia	19,000 km²	1.5 million km²	1516–1931
Republic of Costa Rica Wikipedia	3,790 km²	56,000 km²	1840–2024

"In the data" gives the first and last year the dataset draws the state under this identity; states often existed earlier or later in another form.

What changed since 1830

New on the map: Argentina, Republic of New Granada, Venezuela, Republic of Ecuador, French Second Republic, Republic of Costa Rica.

Gone from the map: Gran Colombia, Río de la Plata, Kingdom of France (July Monarchy), United Provinces of Central America.

What comes next: 1871

Appear by 1871: Republic of Colombia, French Third Republic.

Gone by 1871: Republic of New Granada, Paraguay, French Second Republic, Spanish Empire.

Read the history of 1850

Guided atlas chapters set near this date, each with its own map, causes and consequences:

1848: The Springtime of PeoplesThe Age of Revolutions · chapter 12 · MAR 1848

Questions about this map

Which countries were in South America in 1850?

The map data draws 15 states and other polities in South America in 1850. The largest by land were the Empire of Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, the Republic of New Granada and the Republic of Peru.

What was the largest empire in South America in 1850?

Of the states on this map, the British Empire held the most land in total: about 11.8 million km² in the reconstruction used here. Ancient and frontier borders are approximate, so treat areas as estimates.

Can I explore South America in 1850 interactively?

Yes. Open the interactive map at 1850, zoom into any region, move through the years, and ask the history guide questions: it answers in plain words and draws places, armies and borders on the map.

About these borders

The borders come from Cliopatria (v0.2.1, Seshat Global History Databank, CC BY 4.0), the dataset behind our interactive map, with our audited name and border corrections. It records each state's territory year by year from 3400 BC to 2024. Borders before modern surveys are reconstructions: the data draws a state where it held control, and frontier zones, nomadic realms and loose overlordships are approximate. Areas are measured on an equal-area projection. Read how we make our maps.

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