This detailed map of Sicily, Sardinia, and the surrounding Mediterranean, produced by Johann Baptist Homann in the early 18th century, highlights the geopolitical dynamics of the region during a period of intense competition among European powers. Sicily and Sardinia are depicted as central components of the Spanish Habsburg and later Bourbon dominions, reflecting their critical role in controlling Mediterranean trade routes and their contested status during the War of Spanish Succession (1701–1714). Sicily, prominently divided into its ancient Val di Mazara, Val di Noto, and Val Demone regions, underscores its historical significance as a breadbasket of the Mediterranean and a key point of contention between Bourbon Spain and the Austrian Habsburgs, who briefly held the island following the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.
The map is richly adorned with allegorical cartouches and inset views, which bring depth to the historical narrative. The erupting Mount Etna, paired with a plan of Catania, highlights the volcanic forces that shaped both the geography and the challenges of settlement in Sicily. Meanwhile, the inset of Valletta in Malta reflects its strategic importance as a stronghold of the Knights Hospitaller, whose naval defenses played a crucial role in repelling Ottoman expansion during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Johann Baptist Homann (1663-1724) was a mapmaker who founded the famous Homann Heirs publishing company. He lived his entire life in Bavaria, particularly in Nuremberg. Initially, Johann trained to become a priest before converting to Protestantism and working as a notary.
In 1702, Johann founded a publishing house that specialized in engravings. The firm flourished, becoming the leading map publisher in Germany and an important entity in the European map market. In 1715, Johann was named Imperial Geographer to the Holy Roman Empire by Charles VI and made a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences. Most importantly for his business, his reputation and contacts gained him imperial printing privileges which protected his publications and recommended him to customers. Johann is best known for this Grosser Atlas ueber die ganze Welt, or the Grand Atlas of the World, published in 1716.
After Johann died in 1724, the business passed to his son, Christoph (1703-1730). Upon Christoph’s early death, the company passed to subsequent heirs, with the name of the company changing to Homann Erben, or Homann Heirs. The firm continued in business until 1848.