Etat Abrege de la Maison du Grand Seigneur, de ses Revenus et le Gouvernement Civil, Militaire, et Ecclesiastique de cet Empire.

An elaborate examination of Ottoman culture from the early 18th century.

“Abbreviated State of the House of the Grand Lord, of its Revenues and the Civil, Military, and Ecclesiastical Government of this Empire.” – Approximate title translation.

This attractive copperplate engraved sheet highlights the grandeur and wealth of the Ottoman Empire. A large central image depicts the capital of Constantinople, with dozens of minarets dotting the skyline within the fortified walls and a trade caravan in the foreground. To the left is shown the Seraglio, home of the Sultan and also known as Topkapi Palace. The Hagia Sophia is shown on the right, while various blocks of text describe the government, religious orders, and political hierarchy of the Empire.

The sheet was published in Paris around 1721 as part of Henri Abraham Chatelain’s important Atlas Historique. This monumental seven-volume set was first issued in Amsterdam between 1705 and 1720, but was reprinted in several editions through the late 1730s. The scholarly work offers a nuanced synthesis of geography, cosmography, history, religion, ethnology, and political science that provides fascinating contemporary details through the inclusion of descriptive text, maps, charts, diagrams, and illustrations.