The Empire of Alexander the Great and his Campaigns in Europe, Africa, and Particularly in Asia

Description

This map, published in Paris in 1712, shows the expeditions and empire of Alexander the Great (356–323 BC), in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The circular inset at the top shows the three continents. The numbered notes in the lower right refer to Alexander’s campaign on the banks of the Hyphasis River (now known as the Beas River) in northern India, which is shown on the far-right side of the map. The long note in Latin in the upper right-hand corner summarizes Alexander’s career and conquests, which are explained with reference to Biblical sources, in particular the prophecies in the Book of Daniel, and the Antiquitates Judaicae (The Jewish antiquities) by the first-century historian Flavius Josephus. Borders are annotated in colored ink, and three distance scales are given: 1,000 paces (also known as Roman miles), Greek stadia (one stadia is circa 185−225 meters), and Persian parasangs (a measure of length variously given as between 3.9 and 5.3 kilometers). The map is by Pierre Moulart-Sanson (died 1730), a member of the prominent family of cartographers founded by Nicolas Sanson (1600−67).

Date Created

Publication Information

Paris

Language

Latin

Title in Original Language

Alexandri magni imperium et expeditio per Europam, per Africam et potissimum per Asiam

Type of Item

Maps

Physical Description

1 map ; 41 x 59 centimeters

Notes

  • Scale approximately 1:10,700,000

Last updated: April 8, 2014