Succession des Empereurs de la Chine Divisee en XXII Familles

Succession of the Emperors of China Divided into 22 Families – Approximate Title Translation

Dozens of Chinese emperors spanning hundreds of years are named on this somewhat inaccurate genealogical chart, which recognizes China as the oldest kingdom on the planet. The copperplate-engraved sheet was originally published in Paris 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 re-printed in numerous in several subsequent editions until the late 1730s. The scholarly, but approachable, work was aimed at a broad audience, eager for new information during the Age of Enlightenment. The breadth of content offers a nuanced synthesis of geography, cosmography, history, religion, ethnology, and political science. The descriptive text (in French) and skillfully engraved maps, diagrams, and illustrations provide a fascinating window into the world of the early 18th century.