Tartariae Sinensis Mappa Geographica

Title

Tartariae Sinensis Mappa Geographica

Description

Map of central Asia with Tartaria, Korea, and Japan.

dated 1749

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

Until the end of the 18th century, Tatarei was the name for a large region in Central Asia, Northern Asia and parts of Eastern Europe. This land was the homeland of the Tatars, as the Mongols and the Turkic peoples were generalized by Europeans. The territory of the Mongol Empire and its successor states covered large parts of the Tatarei.The historical name Tatarei were used by Europeans from the Middle Ages until the 19th century, but is no longer in use today. Tatarei gradually lost its importance as political and ethnic conditions changed with the expansion of the Russian Empire and Russian settlement, and the process of assimilation by the Russian Empire was completed with the dissolution of Free Tartarei in the early 19th century.