Robert Montgomery Martin (–1868)

Robert Martin, Esquire, (1800-1868). This 1989 edition is an abridged reproduction of the work originally published in 1851 by John Tallis & Company. Portrait of the world as perceived by the nineteenth century map-makers, with vignettes by eyewitness explorers, navigators, and traders. John Tallis published maps and materials in serial form which were notable for breaking through the insularity which characterized people without telecommunications.

The maps are in color with geographic and political indications.

Example: It compares "Palestine".
ANCIENT PALESTINE, citing the 34th chapter of Numbers, notes that it is impossible to estimate the borders. Clearly the western bound was not the Mediterranean because the Jews did not succeed in expelling the Phoenicians and Philistines from the coasts, although David and Solomon appear to have expanded the Kingdom of Israel between the Seas and from the Eurprates to the frontiers of Egypt.[97] After the Roman conquest, the Romans eventually forbade reentry by Jews, although Constantine restored this right. After the Crusades, the region remained in the hands of the Turks. Damascus is probably the oldest city in the world, founded by a grandson of Noah, but the Israelites were taken over by Persians and Greeks, and is now the centre of the Mussulman world.

MODERN PALESTINE. Under the dominion of the pachas of Acre and Damascus. "The Mahomedans have of late greatly relaxed their hostility to the Jews and Christians; and since the expulsion of the Egyptians and the restoration of the Holy Land to the dominion of the Turks, the sultan of Constantinople has perimitted the construction of a Christian Church on Mount Sion...". "Jerusalem...its population fluctuates in number, but is presently estimated at about 20,000 of whom one quarter are said to be Christians."

"POPULATION. Of the present number of half a million or so inhabitants, the Jews form but a small portion. The remainder consists of Mussulmen and members of the Roman Catholic, Greek and Syrian churches. The pure Jews are supposed to number between three and four million but broken and scattered over every land on the earth, they, as well as their country, remain a monument of the past." [99]

EGYPT AND ARABIA PETRAEA...."Population. Of the total of nearly 2,000,000 people, the great majority are Arab Egyptians, the remainder being Copts, Turks, wandering arabians, white and Negro slaves, Nubians, etc. Although numbering only about 20,000 the Turks are the dominant race and constitute the aristocracy. The Fellahs, who are the agricultural and general labourers, live in very wretched and degraded conditions. The Bedouins, who are the principal owners of camels, have abandoned their former predatory life and are now charged with the conveyance of Anglo-Indian mails and baggage from Alexandria to Suez." [143]… (mais)