Tab. IV Asiae in qua Mesopotamia, Syria, Arabia Petrea, ac. Deserta.

A 16th century Mercator map of the Middle East, re-issued in the 1730s.

This elegant copperplate engraving, titled Asiae III Tab: at the top, provides a fascinating look at the “Cradle of Civilization” as it was understood in antiquity. The coverage is expansive, encompassing the fertile plains of Mesopotamia, the rugged landscapes of Syria, and the vast stretches of Arabia Petraea and Arabia Deserta. Unlike the standard nautical charts or colonial surveys of the 1730s, this is a work of historical geography, designed to serve as a visual companion to classical texts during the Enlightenment Era.

The attractive map utilizes clean lines and soft color to offer an engaging overview of the geographic and political landscape as described by the Greek geographer Ptolemy. Topography is rendered with stylized mountain ranges and meticulously shaded shorelines along the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea. The region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is depicted with a density of ancient settlements, including Babylon, Seleucia, and Nineveh (Ninus).

The map is a testament to the significant interest in classical geography during the Age of Reason, as well as Gerard Mercator’s significant contribution to historical cartography. Mercator first engraved these plates in the 1570s and 1580s; the fact that they were still being printed in atlases in 1730 highlights the sheer quality of his craftsmanship and the resilience of copperplate engraving.