1710 Homann Map of Greece and the Balkans

An example of Johann Baptist Homann's c. 1710 map of southeastern Europe, with a special focus on the Danube River.

A Closer Look

Coverage embraces from Bohemia to Malta in the west and from the Dnieper (Dnipro) River to Crete and Rhodes in the east. Settlements are labeled throughout, with the larger towns and cities illustrated by buildings. Several of these are recorded for purely academic interest, such as Delphi, which had been destroyed and abandoned for centuries. Waterways, hills and mountains, islands, coastal features, and administrative boundaries are also illustrated. The Danube and its tributaries are traced in bold lines across the map. The ancient Roman Via Militaris is also noted, running between Belgrade (Singidunum) and Seliuree (Silivri, formerly Selymbria or Selybria) near Constantinople. The combination of Latin, Italian, German, and Polish placenames gives a sense of Homann's source material, as well as the prevailing political powers in different regions.

A curious inset map on the left covers the Upper Danube, originating in the Black Forest and flowing through Swabia. The title cartouche includes several references to Greek mythology, including Pegasus at the top and Istros at the right, symbolizing the Danube River. The figures at left are uncertain, but they could be Heracles slaying the Lernaean Hydra or Cadmus defeating a similar water dragon. The figures to the far left of the cartouche are likely naiads (freshwater nymphs).

Historical Context

Between 1707 and 1710, Greece and the wider Balkans were under the control of the Ottoman Empire, which was experiencing both internal challenges and external threats during this period. While Ottoman rule remained dominant, the region was marked by unrest and tensions stemming from heavy taxation, corruption, and the empire's efforts to suppress dissent. In Greece, particularly in the Peloponnese, this period followed the end of the Morean War (1684 - 1699), during which the Venetians had temporarily taken control of the region. However, the Treaty of Karlowitz (1699) had returned the Peloponnese to Ottoman control, and by 1707, the Ottomans were re-establishing their authority, often harshly, leading to resentment among the Greek population. Resistance to Ottoman rule simmered in the northern Balkans, with Christian populations in Serbia, Bulgaria, and Wallachia looking to Austria or Russia for support. However, these powers were preoccupied with other conflicts, such as the Great Northern War and Rákóczi's War of Independence in Hungary.

Publication History and Census

This map was prepared by Johann Baptist Homann. Although examples in institutional catalogs are assigned dates ranging from 1702 into the 1730s (with later issues by Homann Heirs into the late 1750s), the present work was prepared between 1707 and 1710 for inclusion in the 1710 edition of his Neuer Atlas. Although later issues of the map are superficially similar to the present map, there are numerous updates and changes, including Homann's Privilege, explanatory notes, and a representation of the Danube River transposed on the Black Sea in later issues. Also, the face of the mythological figure holding a lyre and bow on the left side of the cartouche is noticeably different between the present map and later issues, indicating a new plate rather than modifications to an existing plate. Of note, this example has an old color cartouche, which is very rare in Homann maps, as he generally preferred to leave the cartouche uncolored (most examples with colored cartouches represent modern color).