COLLECTION NAME:
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
Record
Author:
Wagner, Alexander
Date:
1839
Short Title:
Istoricheskii atlas zemnogo shara (Historical Atlas of the Earth)
Publisher:
No publisher
Publisher Location:
St. Petersburg
Type:
Timeline
Obj Height cm:
68
Obj Width cm:
131
Note:
Timeline atlas of world history. Compiled by Russian historian and State Council Alexander Wagner. Permission was granted on the 27 of June 1839, by the censor P. Korsakov in Saint Petersburg. The timeline runs from 5508 BC to 1839 AD. Wagner has broken up world history into three eras :The world of antiquity, 5508 BC-476 AD; The Middle Ages, 476-1499; New or modern world. Wagner connected separate sections that were related by civilization by matching colors and by stretching out the characters of the name of the civilizations over numerous sections. The map is one of the most detailed timelines of its type that appeared in mid-19th century.
World Area:
World
Subject:
Data Visualization
Subject:
Historical
Full Title:
Istoricheskii atlas zemnogo shara : Sostavlennyy kolledzh sovet A. Vagnerom 1839.
List No:
13090.000
Engraver or Printer:
Korsakov, Anlexandrovich
Publication Author:
Wagner, Alexander
Pub Date:
1839
Pub Title:
Istoricheskii atlas zemnogo shara : Sostavlennyy kolledzh sovet A. Vagnerom 1839.(Historical Atlas of the Earth)
Pub Note:
"Russian-Language Timeline of World History -- Quite Possibly The Earliest Example of a Russian Historical Time Line Chart Nice example of Russian Historian and State Councilor Alexander Wagner's rare and exceptionally detailed lithographed chart of time, following the rise and fall of civilizations and peoples. Overall the map is much more detailed than what we see from other mid-19th century timelines of its type. The typical configuration would have turned the information on its side, with dates running along the x-axis and general geographic divisions along the y-axis (e.g., Priestley's A New Chart of History.) That layout would allow for greater focus on timescales, and better legibility, but less information about peoples and places. The present timeline is one of the first to focus on the entire earth, not just on Europe and the Middle East. Priestley's chart focuses on European and Classical civilizations, Melish's followed from Priestley's, and Finley's from Melish's. Wagner's chart includes sections on Africa, Asia, America, and Australia. The timeline runs from 5508 BC to 1839 AD. Wagner has broken up world history into three eras: миръ древніи (The World of Antiquity) 5508 BC - 476 AD (the fall of the Western Roman Empire); [миръ] средній (i.e., Middle Ages) 476-1499; [миръ] новѣишіи (i.e., new or modern world). Wagner connected separate sections that were related by civilization by matching colors and by stretching out the characters of the names of the civilizations over numerous sections. Permission was granted on the 27 of June 1839, by the censor Pyotr Alexandrovich Korsakov, in Saint Petersburg. Wagner's adoption of a timeline that begins in 5508 BC is reflective of contemporary Christian thought on the age of the world. Christianity was heavily integrated into the teaching of history in 19th century Russia, a role that was formalized in the 1833 doctrine of "Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality" promulgated by S. Uvarow the Minister of Education during the rule of Nicholas I. It is likely that Korsakov, the censor who approved the chart, would have demanded that Wagner include a start date of 5508 BC, if he had not chosen to include it on his own. Nicholas I organized the educational system so that it was highly stratified based on class; it is unlikely that anyone other than the children of the aristocracy would have had access to the chart. Europe is split into the following regions: Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, the Pyrenees Peninsula, the Apennine Peninsula, Western Europe, and the Balkan Peninsula. Unsurprisingly Eastern Europe is given a much better treatment than we can find in other timelines. The history of the region dates to 1200-1300 BC. The development of a nominally "Russian" civilization begins in 862-64 AD, before giving way to the Mongol horde in the 13th century and reestablishing itself in 1477-80. The concept of a consolidated "Great Russia" arrives in the 18th and 19th centuries. Outside of Eastern Europe, the Celts (Кельтика) dominate much of the continent for its early history. The Romans (Римляне) occupy much of the middle of the chart in Europe until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476. After that Frankonia enjoys a brief stint before the arrival of the Dark Age. Wagner makes a distinction between "Мисраимъ или Египетъ" (Mizriam or Egypt) and Варвария (Barbary) and the history of both places extends to the beginning of the map. The map also shows the rise of Islam and the Fatimid Caliphate in northern Africa. Asia includes sections for Asia Minor (малая азия) and Upper Asia (Верхняя Aзия) as well as the East Indies. The Middle East, in particular, has a byzantine network of civilizations leading back to the beginning of time, as one would expect. In the later years, it shows Asia being substantially consolidated between the Ottoman and British Empires. In the Americas, Wagner makes an attempt to trace the history of the peoples before the arrival of Columbus. The chart then goes into detail showing the colonization of the Americas. The history of the United States is traced back to the 1585 settlement of Roanoke The artic is looped in with the Americas, and the date of discovery of Greenland and Spitsbergen is somewhat confusingly given as 963. Wagner included Iceland and Norway in that line. Wagner makes no attempt to trace the history of Australia back to 5508 BC. However, he gives over a small corner of the chart to the continent, which takes over from "Polynesia" "полинезия (юя индия океания)", and curiously shows its history starting in 1520, probably relating to the supposed Portuguese siting of Australia in that decade. This timeline is not recorded in the Russian State Library database. A single copy can be found at the National Library of Russia. We have found no examples for sale in Russia or in American or European sales. Given its size, scarcity, and time of publication, it is highly likely that the chart was produced in only a handful of copies for state gymnasiums (i.e., privileged schools for the children of the aristocracy). Special thanks to Pavel Vedernikov for his help in researching this chart." (Ruderman)
Pub List No:
13090.000
Pub Type:
Timeline
Pub Height cm:
68
Pub Width cm:
131
Image No:
13090000.jp2
Authors:
Wagner, Alexander
