Das andere Buch Neapels die hauptsatt dises künigreichs

Title

Das andere Buch Neapels die hauptsatt dises künigreichs

Map shows the city of Neaple as birds eye view.

ca. 1550

Artist

Münster (1489-1552)

Sebastian Münster (1489–1552) was a leading Renaissance cosmographer. His most famous work, the Cosmographia (1544), was a comprehensive description of the world with 24 maps, based on research dating back to 1528. Continuously revised, the 1550 edition already included many new maps. It was the first scientific yet accessible world description published in German, illustrated with numerous woodcuts by artists such as Hans Holbein the Younger. Between 1544 and 1650, the Cosmographia appeared in 46 editions (27 in German) and was translated into several languages. Münster’s work combined the knowledge of scholars, artists, and travelers and remained influential long after his death.

Historical Description

The original Greek settlement was called Neapolis ("New City"). It later came under Roman rule. From the Late Middle Ages until the 18th century, Naples was one of the largest cities in Europe. Originally founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC, Neapolis became a cultural center with strong Greek influence, and during Roman times it was a popular retreat for wealthy Romans. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Naples became part of the Byzantine Empire and later developed into a relatively independent Duchy of Naples. In the 12th century, it was conquered by the Normans and became part of the Kingdom of Sicily, which later split into the Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of Sicily. From the 16th century, Naples was a key city under Spanish rule. It was later governed by the Bourbons and became the capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. In 1861, Naples became part of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy during the process of Italian unification (Risorgimento). Before that, it was one of Europe's most important and culturally rich cities.