Kurdistan Map 1598

Maps of the Caucasus, Middle East, Central Asia > Antique Ottoman map at its peak, end of 16th century

 Zoom on Antique Ottoman map at its peak, end of 16th century

A good example of a map of the Turkish Empire, covering the Middle East, Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean from Sicily to Cyprus. This is the second edition of the old map of the Turkish Empire by Abraham Ortelius, 1598.

The map is based on the wall map of Asia, Giacomo Gastaldi, 1561. It includes a decorative cartouche in the lower left corner. The caption reads: “Unity produces seedlings that perish because of contention.” This was probably a reference to the power of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the sixteenth century, which reached its zenith at the very time that this map was published. Other decorations include four sailing ships and a sea monster in the Black Sea.

There are several notes on the map. In one paragraph, next to Lake Aktamar, just below the Caspian Sea, various names of the lake are described throughout its history. It also mentions that dried fish caught there is sold throughout the region. The resources and goods of the Ottoman Empire are important to Ortelius, as he also mentions the famous market city of Hormuz. Near Jemen, he mentions that local incense is spread throughout the world.

A map of the Turkish empire of Ortelia shows the power of this major political entity. Under the rule of Sultan Selim I (b. 1512-1520), the empire tripled in size. Suleiman I, also known as Suleiman the Magnificent, was the tenth sultan who retained power from 1520 until his death in 1566. During his reign, the Ottomans conquered Belgrade, Rhodes and most of Hungary and Iraq. The Ottoman Empire will continue to expand and flourish in the seventeenth century, constantly interfering in the affairs of other European empires.