Napels Capitale du Royaume de meme nome

Title

Napels Capitale du Royaume de meme nome

Map shows the city of Napels from the Harbour.

ca. 1729

Artist

Aa, van der (1659-1733)

Pieter van der Aa ( 1659 - 1733) was a Dutch publisher best known for preparing maps and atlases, though he also printed pirated editions of foreign bestsellers and illustrated volumes. He also printed many maps that were often out of print, which he reissued. Some of his most popular maps were of the African continent, detailing locations such as Morocco and Madagascar. Many of his later works were printed for the general public in French and Dutch. Pieter van der Aa began his career at Leiden in 1683 as a Latin trade publisher, publishing classical texts pertaining to medicine and science. As he progressed, he began to publish atlases and maps, compiling numerous multi-volume collections of works. His ambition to become Leiden's most famous printer was fulfilled in 1715 with his appointment to head printer for the city and its university. One of Pieter van der Aa's largest compilations relates to the history of Italy and Sicily, an area of immense personal interest. Though he took credit for many of his compilations, several, such as the Dutch collection of travels to the East and West Indies, were admittedly simple improvements to others' works.

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.