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Finely executed map of the region from Asia Minor and the Eastern Caribbean to the Caspian Sea and Basra, published in London by James Wyld.

The map captures the region then controlled by the Ottoman Empire, along with the exploration routes of Cyrus and Xenophon, Colonel Leake and General Koehler in 1800, Mr. Browne in 1802, and Mr. Kinnear from 1808 to 1814.

This map illustrates the geopolitical boundaries and significant territorial divisions of the Ottoman Empire in Asia, alongside the adjacent frontiers of the Russian and Persian empires. The regions depicted include modern-day Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, parts of Saudi Arabia, and the northern Arabian Peninsula, extending eastward to the borderlands with Persia (modern-day Iran) and northwards into the territories influenced by Russia. 

The map divides the Ottoman territories into several significant administrative regions.  The map also covers the Arabian Peninsula's northern parts, reflecting the Ottoman influence in regions such as Hejaz and the edge of the Nejd. 

The first half of the 19th century was a period of significant geopolitical change and turmoil for the Ottoman Empire. The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) and subsequent European conflicts had profound effects on the Ottoman territories, especially with the increasing intervention of European powers in the empire’s affairs. A critical moment in this period was the Russo-Turkish Wars, particularly the war from 1806 to 1812, which concluded with the Treaty of Bucharest. This treaty resulted in the Ottomans ceding significant territories, including parts of modern-day Romania, to Russia, marking a notable territorial reduction. The subsequent Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829) further weakened the empire, with the Treaty of Adrianople (1829) granting Russia additional concessions, including the right to navigate the Black Sea and free access for Russian vessels through the straits. 

Throughout this period, the Ottoman Empire struggled to maintain its territorial integrity against rising nationalist movements and external pressures. The Greek War of Independence (1821-1830) was a crucial conflict that resulted in the loss of Greece, formally recognized by the Treaty of Constantinople in 1832. This event significantly diminished Ottoman influence in the Balkans and underscored the empire’s declining control over its European provinces.

The First Egyptian-Ottoman War (1831-1833) and the Second Egyptian-Ottoman War (1839-1841), led by the ambitious Ottoman governor Muhammad Ali of Egypt, posed severe threats to the empire’s cohesion. Muhammad Ali's forces captured key Ottoman territories, including Syria and parts of Arabia, but were eventually curtailed by European intervention, notably the British, who supported the Ottoman sultan in exchange for geopolitical favors, as formalized in the Treaty of London (1840). These conflicts highlighted the Ottoman Empire’s dependence on European powers to sustain its territorial claims and foreshadowed the growing influence of European diplomacy in Ottoman affairs.  

Route of Cyrus and Xenophon

The map marks the ancient routes of Cyrus the Great and Xenophon, highlighting the significant military campaigns and journeys that shaped early Persian and Greek history. Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid Empire, undertook extensive military campaigns across the regions depicted, consolidating Persian control over vast territories from Asia Minor to the fringes of India. Xenophon's route, famously chronicled in his work Anabasis, follows the journey of the Ten Thousand Greek mercenaries who, after fighting under Cyrus the Younger against Artaxerxes II, found themselves stranded deep within enemy territory. Xenophon led his troops on a perilous retreat through Mesopotamia, Armenia, and back to the Black Sea, a testament to the strategic challenges and geographical obstacles of the region.

Route of Colonel Leake and General Koehler in 1800

The route of Colonel William Martin Leake and General Koehler in 1800, marked on the map, reflects the strategic reconnaissance undertaken by British military officers during the early 19th century in the Ottoman Empire. Leake, a renowned topographer and antiquarian, accompanied General Koehler as part of British efforts to strengthen their understanding of the geopolitical landscape amidst the Napoleonic Wars. Their journey through the Ottoman territories was primarily for the collection of topographical and military intelligence, aiming to assess the region's strategic value in the broader context of British interests against French expansionism. Their travels contributed significantly to the Western understanding of the Ottoman Empire's geography, military infrastructure, and political dynamics.

Route of Mr. Browne in 1802

Mr. William George Browne’s route in 1802 is noted for its exploratory nature, as Browne was one of the early European explorers deeply interested in the geography and cultures of the Middle East. Browne, initially driven by curiosity about the African continent, shifted his focus to the regions of the Ottoman Empire, journeying through Syria, Egypt, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula. His travels in 1802, specifically highlighted on the map, were part of a broader attempt to document and understand the interior regions of the Ottoman domain, which were largely unknown to Europeans at the time. Browne's meticulous observations contributed to the growing body of knowledge about the Middle East's geography, antiquities, and the complex social fabrics within these territories.

Route of Mr. Kinnear from 1808 to 1814

The routes of Mr. John Macdonald Kinnear from 1808 to 1814 trace the extensive travels of a British diplomat and traveler who ventured through the Ottoman and Persian lands during a period of significant political and social upheaval. Kinnear's journey, spanning several years, reflects a period when European powers were increasingly involved in the Middle East, not just for exploration but also for diplomatic and strategic purposes. His route across the Ottoman dominions and into Persia was part of broader British efforts to secure alliances and gather intelligence in the face of growing Russian and French influence in the region. Kinnear’s observations, recorded in his subsequent writings, provided valuable insights into the conditions of the Ottoman Empire and its neighboring territories, detailing the political, economic, and cultural landscape of the early 19th century Middle East.