Von der Statt Preßlaw / Von Teutschlandt. 1319

Title

Von der Statt Preßlaw / Von Teutschlandt. 1319

General view of the city of Wrocław in Poland. The lower illustration shows the Bishop of Wrocław, who was known at the time as the Golden Bishop. Front and back with German text.

ca. 1600

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

Breslau, located on the Oder River in present-day Poland, has a history spanning over a thousand years. As early as the 10th century, a Slavic settlement was established, later becoming part of the Piast dynasty’s Poland. In the 13th century, Breslau was granted city rights under Magdeburg law and developed into an important trade and cultural center in Silesia. The city was a member of the Hanseatic League, which boosted its economic growth. Breslau later came under Habsburg rule and, for periods, Prussian control, remaining an important center for trade, education, and culture. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Breslau was part of the German Empire, undergoing industrialization and modernization. The city was heavily destroyed during World War II. After the war, Breslau became part of Poland and was renamed Wrocław. Most of the German population was expelled and replaced by Poles from the eastern territories. Today, Wrocław is a modern, vibrant city, known for its historic old town, bridges, universities, and cultural events.