Orbis Romani Pars Occidentalis.

Title

Orbis Romani Pars Occidentalis.

Description

Map shows the western Roman Empire with Spain, France, England, Italy, Swizzerland, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Marocco, Algeria and Tunesia.

ca. 1816

Artist

Anville´d (1697-1782)

Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville (1697 -1782), was a French geographer and the reformer of old and new cartography. Bourguignon d'Anville devoted himself early to geographical studies, already in the age of 21 became a royal geographer.With this appointment he later rose as a private secretary of Louis, Duke of Orléans. He published 211 maps and became a member of the Académie des sciences in 1773. His valuable map collection, consisting of 10,500 numbers, was purchased for the Royal Library of Paris, now the Bibliothèque Nationale de France. Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville, was a geographer and cartographer who greatly improved the standards of map making. Particularly valuable are his maps of ancient geography, which are characterized by careful, accurate work and are largely based on original research. He left unknown areas of continents blank and noted dubious information as such; compared to the elaborate maps of his predecessors, his maps seemed empty. His first serious map, that of ancient Greece, was published when he was fifteen years old. At the age of twenty-two he was appointed one of the king's geographers and began to attract the attention of the first authorities. D'Anville's studies included everything geographical in the world's literature as far as he could find it: To this end, he searched not only ancient and modern historians, travelers, and storytellers of every kind, but also poets, orators, and philosophers. One of his favorite themes was to reform geography by putting an end to blind copying of older maps, by testing the generally accepted positions of places by a rigorous examination of all descriptive authority, and by excluding from cartography any name that was inadequately supported.

Historical Description

The history of Europe from the 15th to the 19th century was shaped by profound political, social, and cultural changes that formed modern Europe. At the beginning of the 15th century, Europe was marked by the effects of the Middle Ages and the feudal structure. A significant event was the Renaissance, which began around 1400 in Italy and marked a revival of classical ancient culture, art, and sciences. The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440 was also revolutionary and promoted the spread of knowledge. By the end of the century, European explorers, such as Christopher Columbus, began finding new trade routes, which led to the discovery of the New World. The 16th century was defined by the Reformation, when Martin Luther published his 95 Theses in 1517, challenging the Catholic Church. This led to religious conflicts and the division of Western Christianity into Catholics and Protestants. Politically, Europe saw the rise of the Habsburg Empire and the development of nation-states such as France and England. The age of exploration continued, leading to a new wave of colonization. The 17th century was a time of wars and political instability, including the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), which devastated much of Europe. These conflicts resulted in significant territorial changes and the establishment of the modern Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. During this time, Absolutism took root, with monarchs like Louis XIV of France exercising absolute power. The 18th century was marked by the ideas of the Enlightenment, which emphasized reason, science, and individual freedom. This led to profound political and social reforms. At the same time, major wars such as the War of Spanish Succession (1701–1714) and the Seven Years' War (1756–1763) took place. The century ended with the events of the French Revolution (1789), which overthrew the monarchy and established the Republic. This paved the way for the Napoleonic Wars and the Napoleonic Era, which triggered political and social upheavals throughout Europe. The 19th century was shaped by the aftermath of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, which reshaped Europe's political system. After Napoleon's defeat in 1815, Europe was reorganized at the Congress of Vienna. Nationalism and Liberalism grew, leading to significant political upheavals, including the German Confederation, the unification of Italy, and the formation of the German Empire in 1871. At the same time, industrialization and urbanization began, significantly altering Europe's economic and social structure. The 19th century ended with the outbreak of World War I in 1914, which shattered the entire European power structure and many social systems.