Did you know that California used to be an island?
Well, not really.
But there was a period when it existed in the minds of millions.
From the mid-1600s to the early 1700s, many of Europe’s most-influential maps depicted California not as part of North America, but as a large island separated from the mainland by a wide strait. Despite contradictory evidence from various explorers, it was adopted in prestigious atlases and propagated rapidly throughout the Old World as fact.
The origin of the “island of California” dates back to a 1510 Spanish romance novel, “Las sergas de Esplandián.” The myth grew because reports from early explorers were incomplete and left gaps yet to be filled. Imagine the let-down when 17th- and 18th-century adventurers found there was no remote paradise island of gold, ruled by warrior Queen Calafia.
But why did people fall for it?
The people succumbed to the power of a narrative from voices of authority. Respected cartographers printed it, and others repeated it until it became reality. The story of an exotic promise land of beauty and riches captured the imaginations of the people. There were also geo-political reasons for empires to maintain uncertainty. And, by having no means of verification, the people simply trusted what they were shown.
Imagine if you had all that power PLUS the truth on your side.
The Island of California presents a great example of the power of public persuasion. Even without solid evidence, it became an accepted truth that took nearly a century to correct.
The same psychological principles apply to brand building today:
- Repetition creates reality and familiarity builds trust
- Authority accelerates adoption and consumers follow
- A strong narrative and good story beat data every time
The lessons are clear.
- Controlling your narrative early and consistently positions your brand as a voice of authority.
- A compelling story that’s meaningful to your audience can be powerfully persuasive.
- Clearly occupying a unique space in the minds of your market is the difference between being remembered or just another forgotten myth.
And that is the promised land.
No man is an island.
Brands cannot live or thrive in isolation. “Build it and they will come” doesn’t work.
Drop us a line today and let’s get you on the map!
MORE ABOUT THIS MAP
“Algemeene Wereldtkaart van den Aardkloot. In twee Vlakronden Vertoont, en naar de Niewste Beschryvingen Overzien en Verbetert”
The map of North America shown above is small portion of a hand-colored world map created circa 1705 by Dutch cartographer Jans Luyts. Along with the Island of California, it includes a number of other mythical land features.
CLICK THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE.
This double-hemisphere map is beautifully decorated with clouds at top and allegorical representations of the continents at bottom. California is shown as an island, and Terre de Iesso stretches between Asia and North America. There is a bit of Nouvelle Zeelande that connects to the coastline of the mythical Terre Magellanique, and Australia is only partly mapped. The cartography is based on Nicolas Sanson, who is credited in the title, and engraved by Anthony de Winter. This map was first published in the Dutch version of Jans Luyts’ geography, published by Francis Halma, who later included this map in other publications.
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