Die königl. Preus. Churf. Brandenburg Residenz-Stadt Berlin

Title

Die königl. Preus. Churf. Brandenburg Residenz-Stadt Berlin

Description

Map shows the clity map of Berlin wit a beautiful totla view

ca. 1737

Artist

Homann Erben (1724-1780)

Johann Babtiste Homann (1664-1724) was born in Oberkammlach, the Electorate of Bavaria. Although educated at a Jesuit school, and preparing for an ecclesiastical career, he eventually converted to Protestantism and from 1687 worked as a civil law notary in Nuremberg. He soon turned to engraving and cartography; in 1702 he founded his own publishing house. Homann acquired renown as a leading German cartographer, and in 1715 was appointed Imperial Geographer by Emperor Charles VI. Giving such privileges to individuals was an added right that the Holy Roman Emperor enjoyed. In the same year he was also named a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin. Of particular significance to cartography were the imperial printing privileges (Latin: privilegia impressoria). These protected for a time the authors in all scientific fields such as printers, copper engravers, map makers and publishers. They were also very important as a recommendation for potential customers. In 1716 Homann published his masterpiece Grosser Atlas ueber die ganze Welt (Grand Atlas of all the World). Numerous maps were drawn up in cooperation with the engraver Christoph Weigel the Elder, who also published Siebmachers Wappenbuch. Homann died in Nuremberg. He was succeeded by the Homann heirs company, which was in business until 1848. The company was known as Homann Erben, Homanniani Heredes, or Heritiers de Homann abroad.

Historical Description

The name of the high medieval founding city of Berlin comes from the Old Polish word Birlin, Berlin, which means 'place in a marshy area'. The town of Kölln, located on the Spree Island, was first mentioned in a document in 1237. This was followed in 1244 by the first mention of (Old) Berlin, which lies on the northeastern bank of the Spree. In 1280, the first verifiable Mark Brandenburg Diet took place in Berlin. This points to an early top position, as can also be seen from the land book of Charles IV (1375), when Berlin is proven to be the city with the highest tax revenue together with Stendal, Prenzlau and Frankfurt/Oder. The two cities Berlin and Kölln got a common town hall in 1307. From the 14th century onwards, Berlin was a member of the Hanseatic League's trade association. In 1518, Berlin formally left or was excluded from the Hanseatic League. The Reformation was introduced in Berlin and Kölln in 1539 under Elector Joachim II, without any major disputes. Frederick William, known as the Great Elector, took over the reigns from his father in 1640. From 1641, the suburbs of Friedrichswerder, Dorotheenstadt and Friedrichstadt were founded. Under Frederick William, a policy of immigration and religious tolerance was cultivated. In 1671, 50 Jewish families from Austria were given a home in Berlin. With the Potsdam Edict of Tolerance in 1685, the Elector invited the French Huguenots to Brandenburg. Berlin gained the status of Prussian capital in 1701 with the coronation of Frederick I as King in Prussia, which was made official by the edict creating the Royal Residence of Berlin by merging the cities of Berlin, Kölln, Friedrichswerder, Dorotheenstadt and Friedrichstadt on January 17, 1709. Around 1800, the city developed into one of the centers of the German cultural landscape, which was expressed in the metropolitan civic culture known as "Berlin Classicism." Religious and social tolerance during this period made Berlin one of the most important cities of the Enlightenment in Europe. After Prussia's defeat by Napoleon's armies in 1806, King Frederick William III left Berlin for Königsberg. Authorities and wealthy families moved away from Berlin. French troops occupied the city from 1806 to 1808. Under the reformer Freiherr vom und zum Stein, the new Berlin City Code was adopted in 1808. The formation of a Berlin University, proposed by Wilhelm von Humboldt, played a significant role in the reforms of schools and scientific institutions. In the following decades until around 1850, new factories settled outside the city walls, where immigrants found employment as workers or day laborers. As a result, the number of inhabitants doubled due to immigration from the eastern parts of the country. Important companies such as Borsig, Siemens or AEG emerged and soon led to Berlin being considered an industrial city.