Tunis / Tunisia - Braun & Hogenberg - Original copper engraving - 1575 AD

Image description

This impressive historical depiction shows the cityTunis (Tunisia)in one of the earliest and most important cartographic views of the 16th century. The copper engraving comes from the famous city atlas.“Civitates Orbis Terrarum”fromGeorg Braun and Frans Hogenberg, one of the most important works of the early modern period for depicting cities and metropolises worldwide.

The view connectstopographical accuracy combined with narrative imageryTunis is depicted from an elevated perspective, showcasing city walls, fortresses, lagoons, port facilities, and a vivid portrayal of military and maritime scenes. Particularly striking are the richly detailed drawings of ships, camps, and troop formations, which underscore Tunis's strategic importance in the 16th-century Mediterranean.

Historical context

At the time this map was created, Tunis was a central geopolitical hub between Europe, the Ottoman Empire, and North Africa. The depiction reflects the conflicts between Christian and Ottoman powers, as well as the city's role as a major trading and military port. Such views served not only for geographical orientation but also for the political and cultural classification of foreign regions.

The copper engraving was inColognepublished and is one of the rare depictions of Africa from the early modern period that portray North Africa in such detail and narrative style.