Sign In

This is a thematic map serving as an illustrative companion to Carl Ritter’s influential geographic work on Asia, specifically Die Erdkunde von Asien (The Geography of Asia).

This map was designed by E. Mahlmann and reflects the detailed structure of Ritter's multi-volume geographic study.

The map is a schematic overview of regions within Asia, including South Asia, Central Asia, and East Asia. It divides the geography into distinct chapters (labeled Cap. or chapters) corresponding to the sections in Ritter’s work. These divisions are color-coded to aid readers in understanding how the physical and cultural geography aligns with the content of Ritter's text. The accompanying table on the right links these chapters to specific volumes, sections (Theil), and pages (Seite) in Ritter’s work, making the map a functional index for academic readers and researchers.

The mapped regions cover territories ranging from the Indian subcontinent and the Himalayan region to China, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. The map highlights important physical features such as mountain ranges, rivers, and plateaus, as well as cultural and historical divisions tied to Ritter’s detailed study of human-environment interactions.

At the bottom left, a note explains the map's use of Roman numerals to indicate clarifications and references to specific explanations in the book, while unbounded areas are left to signify general topics like the natural world or historical overviews.

This map exemplifies Ritter’s methodological approach to geography, which integrated physical geography, history, and cultural studies into a comprehensive framework. As one of the founding figures of modern geography, Ritter’s work aimed to provide a systematic understanding of regions through both spatial representation and scholarly analysis.