Maps, along with their accompanying studies and descriptions, serve as crucial historical evidence. They aid in understanding the political development of both the ancient and modern worlds, reflecting international relations at various stages in the evolution of states.
The book Armenia in World Cartography was republished at the initiative of His Eminence Archbishop Ezras Nersisyan, the head of the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church.
Map 1
This map of medieval Armenia was sourced from a book published in 1736 in London in both Latin and Armenian. The book includes The History of Armenia and Geography by Movses Khorenatsi, although some researchers today attribute the authorship of Geography to Anania Shirakatsi. The publication was made possible by the Whiston brothers, William and George.
The map is based on interpretations and information from Ashkharhatsuyts (World Atlas). It features the 15 provinces of Greater Armenia, delineated with dashed lines, while the country’s outer borders are marked with small dashes. Lesser Armenia is shown west of Greater Armenia, on the eastern edge of Anatolia.
Among the cities marked on the map are Erivanum (Yerevan), Valarshapata (Vagharshapat or Echmiadzin), Arzerum or Karin or Theodosiopolis, Vannum or Semiramakert (Van or Shamiramakert), Bitlis, Arshamashat, and Nakhvanum (Nakhichevan). Ararat is also identified as Masis, and the Armenian name for the Araks River—Erasx—is used. Comparing this map to those of Ptolemy from the same period reveals that older maps are not as inaccurate as often assumed.
Dimensions: 185 mm x 225 mm Private Collection: London
Map 2
This map of the Ottoman Empire comes from The New Atlas by Johann Baptist Homann (1663–1724). It is the 13th page of the atlas, published in Saint Petersburg in 1748. The cartographers are Guillaume Delisle and Johann Matthias Hase.
Although the atlas was published in 1748, the map of Turkey included here is dated 1737. This map differs slightly from the Delisle atlas. Part of Armenia is shown within the borders of the Ottoman Empire, while the eastern part, including Karabakh and Yerevan, is indicated as under Persian control.
The western regions of the Caspian Sea are labeled as Dagestan, Lezgi, and Shirvan, while Mughan and Azerbaijan are situated south of the Araks River, within Persia’s boundaries. Like other maps by Delisle, this one depicts Lakes Van and Urmia as connected by a gulf.
Dimensions: 58 cm x 49 cm British Library: London
Map 3
The significance of this map lies in it being the first map by Ottoman geographers to be printed in Europe. The map was created by Abu Bekir Efendi and published in both French and Italian. It is titled The Ottoman Empire Divided into Beylerbeyliks, Pashaliks, and Buliks.
The map was first printed in the book by Count Marsili, titled The Military Status of the Ottoman Empire, published in Amsterdam in 1732. The book contains another similar map where the borders of countries are not marked.
Map Details
The map’s author is the same Count Ludovico Marsili, who in 1691 commissioned Jeremias Chelebi Kemerjian to create a map of Armenian churches located within the Ottoman Empire.
The text provides a division of the empire: the Beylerbeyliks are also referred to as Vilayets, which may encompass the territory of a single province or an entire country. These divisions coincide with those depicted on Kemerjian’s map, where they are shown with one, two, or three rods.
On the map, the Vilayet of Armenia (Ermani Vil) includes Erzurum (Arzrum), Malazgirt, Van, Bitlis, Bayazit (Baizit), Khotur, and other areas. The position of Lake Van is shifted eastward, disrupting the proportional placement of cities and geographical sites. For instance, Kars, located 150 kilometers northwest of Bayazit, is marked to its east, at a distance of 100 Italian miles.
Dimensions: 57 cm x 54 cm British Library: London
Map 4
French cartographer Robert Vaugondi (1688–1768) published his Small Pocket Atlas in 1762. The map presented here is from that atlas.
It is titled The Map of the Medieval World, which includes the Middle East and the South Caucasus. On this map, Armenia stretches from Aghvank to Cilicia, bordered to the south by Assyria and Mesopotamia and to the north by Georgia. The Earthly Paradise—Eden—is depicted at the center of Armenia. Northwest of Lake Van and Lake Urmia, the two lakes are shown almost adjacent to one another, a depiction inconsistent with reality but commonly accepted in French cartography of that era.
Dimensions: 25 cm x 24 cm Private Collection: London
Map 5
The map Ashkharhatsuyts of Armenia According to Ancient and New Geographers was created by Ignatius Khachatryan and published in Venice in 1751, according to the Armenian calendar year of 1200 (the Armenian calendar being religiously based and counting from the year 551).
The map illustrates the territory of historical Armenia as described by ancient and modern geographers, marking various provinces and regions. It is drawn based on Ashkharhatsuyts by Anania Shirakatsi.
The map prominently features key geographical landmarks such as Lake Sevan, Mount Ararat, and Lake Van, referred to here as Lake Akhtamar. Ararat is labeled with its Armenian name Masis, and Sevan is noted as Lake Geghama.
Dimensions: 45 cm x 28 cm British Library: London
Map 6
This map, created by Emanuel Bowen (active 1714–1767), is titled An Accurate and New Map of Anatolia or Asia Minor. It is sourced from his atlas, A Complete System of Geography, published in London in 1766. Bowen reused this map in multiple atlases published in 1744, 1752, and 1770.
The map depicts Anatolia and Armenia, extending from the Persian borders to Western Anatolia, highlighting cities and the network of connecting roads. It also marks Armenian cities located on prominent trade routes.
Dimensions: 42 cm x 34 cm Private Collection: London
Map 7
This map, titled The Eastern Kingdoms of the Ancient World, was published by M. Robert in France in 1779.
The map showcases the monarchies of the Ancient World, including Greater Armenia, Albania (Aghvank), Media (Marastan), Parthia, Persia, Iberia, and Median Atropatene (Azerbaijan), located on the southern bank of the Araks River. An inset of the world map in the same work portrays Australia as incomplete.
Dimensions: 66 cm x 51 cm Private Collection: London
Map 8
This fascinating map, titled The Earthly Paradise – Eden, is based on medieval myths and religious traditions, which placed the Garden of Eden in Mesopotamia. The map was created by the English cartographer Emanuel Bowen (1714–1767).
Eden is depicted within the territory of Historical Armenia, between Lake Urmia and Lake Van, with Mount Ararat at the center. The sources of the Araks, Tigris, and Euphrates rivers are also marked in this area. The map was printed around 1780. The same map was reprinted in various Bowen atlases published from 1744 to 1780.
Similar maps were also published by cartographers such as Moxon, Stackhouse, Kircher, Buache, and Vaugondi.
Dimensions: 20 cm x 23 cm Private Collection: London
Map 9
Printed in Paris in 1783, this map by Philippe Buache (1700–1773) is titled A Map Illustrating the Lives of Saints. It depicts biblical lands and includes the names of Noah’s descendants who settled in these regions.
The Earthly Paradise—Eden—is shown in Armenia, along with Mount Ararat, which features Noah’s Ark resting on its peak. Lake Van and Lake Urmia are represented as connected by a strait.
Dimensions: 26 cm x 33.7 cm Collection of S. Poghosyan: Paris
Map 10
This map, titled The Ottoman Empire, printed in Armenian, was produced by the Mekhitarist Congregation on the island of San Lazzaro in 1787.
The map marks the conquered territories of the Ottoman Empire. Armenia is depicted as divided between the Ottoman and Persian (Ajami) Empires. Accurate representations of Lakes Van, Sevan, and Urmia are included, along with significant cities of Armenia and Anatolia.
Some place names and toponyms are presented in both Armenian and Turkish. The printing house of the Mekhitarist Congregation of San Lazzaro flourished in the 18th–19th centuries, producing many books in Armenian and other languages. This printing house, which played a significant role in Armenian publishing, continues to operate to this day.
Dimensions: 27 cm x 26 cm British Library: London
Map 11
Titled A New Map of Asiatic Turkey, this map is based on one created by Jean Baptiste d’Anville (1697–1782) and was printed in London in 1794. It was also included in The General Atlas by William Faden, published in 1797.
The map depicts Armenia divided between the Persian and Ottoman Empires. Some of the province names of Historical Armenia are noted. Yerevan and Ararat are within Persian borders, and Sevan is referred to as Blue Water.
Interestingly, the map highlights the Temple of St. Thaddeus in the province of Artaz. The depictions of Lakes Van and Urmia are inaccurate. Azerbaijan is shown south of the Araks River, as one of Persia’s provinces.
Dimensions: 71 cm x 52 cm Private Collection: London
Map 12
Printed in Ottoman Turkish, this map, titled Asiatic Turkey, was taken from the Atlas of the World, published in Scutari (a district of Constantinople) in 1803–1804. It is based on The General Atlas by William Faden (1750–1836).
Faden’s map was first published in London in 1797. Unlike the 52 maps in the English atlas, the Ottoman atlas contains only 24 maps, translated by Mahmud Raif. The maps are large, meticulously crafted, and colored. The book is dated to “the year 1218 of the Hijra.”
The atlas also contains 78 pages of text, providing information about the globe, the sun, the moon, and various peoples. It includes explanations about different countries and their key cities.
The map shows the eastern borders of the Ottoman Empire. Armenia is divided between the Persian and Ottoman Empires. Some province names of Historical Armenia are noted. Yerevan (here referred to as Revan) and Ararat are within Persian borders.
On the map, the regions of Van and Erzurum are labeled Ermenistan, meaning Armenia. Azerbaijan is shown south of the Araks River, as one of Persia’s provinces. The map is based on A New Map of Asiatic Turkey by d’Anville.
Dimensions: 72 cm x 54 cm British Library: London
Map 13
This map, titled The Region of the Mediterranean, printed in Ottoman Turkish, is sourced from the Atlas of the World, published in Scutari in 1803. This atlas is based on The General Atlas by William Faden (1750–1836). Faden originally published his map in London in 1797.
The map portrays the Eastern Mediterranean, where the dominant power was the Ottoman Empire. Armenia is divided between the Persian and Ottoman Empires. In the Armenian region, some province names of Historical Armenia are noted. Yerevan (here referred to as Revan) and Ararat are within Persian borders.
The regions of Van and Erzurum are labeled Ermenistan, meaning Armenia. Azerbaijan is located south of the Araks River, as one of Persia’s provinces.
Dimensions: 85 cm x 58 cm British Library: London
by Ruben Galchyan
