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This finely detailed map, entitled Egitto, Arabia Petrea, Nubia, Abissinia, presents a comprehensive geographic and topographic overview of Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, Nubia, and Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia) during the late 19th century.
The map was created during a period of significant political and social changes in the regions it depicts. Egypt, under the rule of the Khedivate, was a semi-autonomous province of the Ottoman Empire, experiencing a series of modernization efforts and European influence, particularly from Britain and France. The construction of the Suez Canal in 1869 had recently revolutionized global trade routes, highlighting Egypt's strategic importance.
In the Arabian Peninsula, the late 19th century was marked by the decline of Ottoman influence and the rise of local powers, leading to the eventual formation of modern states. Nubia, straddling the regions of modern southern Egypt and northern Sudan, remained an area of rich cultural heritage, influenced by both Egyptian and Sudanese civilizations.
Abyssinia, or Ethiopia, under Emperor Menelik II, was undergoing a period of consolidation and expansion, resisting European colonial pressures and emerging as a significant African power. The Battle of Adwa in 1896, where Ethiopian forces decisively defeated Italian invaders, symbolized Ethiopia's determination to maintain its sovereignty.
The map meticulously details the major towns, cities, rivers, and topographical features of these regions. The Nile River, the lifeblood of Egypt and Nubia, is prominently displayed, flowing from its sources in the highlands of Ethiopia through the deserts of Sudan and Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. Major Egyptian cities such as Cairo, Alexandria, and Thebes (Luxor) are marked, reflecting their historical and contemporary significance.
The Red Sea, separating the Arabian Peninsula from Africa, is shown with its strategic ports and maritime routes. The map also highlights the rugged terrain of the Arabian Peninsula, including the Hejaz region, which holds the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
In Ethiopia, the highland regions and the significant city of Addis Ababa are detailed, reflecting the country’s unique geography that contributed to its historical isolation and defense against foreign invasions.
![(Horn of Africa) Abessinien Somaliländern [cover title:] Neue Karte von Abessinien und Somaliländern](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/97482.jpg)
![Egypt [with] Abyssinia](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/71788.jpg)