Media

Sources from old books

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

Of MEDIA, and the Provinces thereof.

Media is limited on the East with Parthia; on the West with Armenia, on the South with Persia, and on the North with the Caspian Sea; being absolutely the greatest Sea of all others that hath no commerce with the Ocean, by some called the Hircanian Sea, and by some the Sea Bacchu, of a Towne of that name thereon bordering.

The chiefe Cities of this Countrey is Sultania, famous for the faire Mosque in the East; Sumachia, the strongest of all the rest, taken by the Turkes in Anno 1578, and now the seat of a Turkish Bashaw; Eres, Ardovile, Shervan, Bacchu, and some others; and lastly, the most eminent Tauris, of the trade hereof see heereafter.

Likewise in this Tract is comprehended the Province of Albania, now Zairia, little beholding to the industry or labour of the Husbandman, yet of its owne accord yeelding for one sowing, most times two, and sometimes three reapings: the chiefe Citie is Caucasiae Portae, built hard upon the hill Caucasus, one of the best fortified Townes of the East, now called Derbent, a strong Citie invironed with two walls, and fortified with iron Gates; yet neverthelesse taken it was by the grand Signior in his last wars against the Persians, vnder whose command it now remaineth, being now accounted one of the keyes of this kingdome, and the common entrance into Persia; and lastly in this Countrey Phidon an Argive in Anno mundi 3146 is said to find out the use of weights and measures; which knowledge and concordance by this Tract I covet to obtaine.

And to conclude, a word of the Trade of this Countrey in the generall; I find that the Moscovia company were the first that sought the knowledge thereof in these parts; for upon their discovery of Moscovia, they traded downe the River Volga to Astracan, and thence in Barks sailed with their English commodities to Bacchu, Derbent, and other places on the Caspian Sea, and since some of the East India Company have more narrowly traced it, and have observed the same more particular: the principall commodities proceeding hence is the raw silke made at Gilan, Zahaspa, Rastiguan, Chiulfall, and others, now knowne unto vs by the name of Persia, Ardasse, and Lege silkes, and from this last the dealers in silke here are throughout Asia commonly termed Chiulfallins.

1676. A most exact and accurate map of the whole world by Donald Lupton.

XXVII. Media,

(E. Parthia and Hircania, W. Arm. major, and Assyria. N. Caspian Sea, Georgia. S. Persia. now Skeir-vun, i. e. Milky-plain, where it was a punishment for the Vulgar men to have less then seven Wives, and Women less then five Husbands; their bread of dryed Almonds, their meat wild flesh; on the North side plenty of Wines, Fruits, Cattle, especially horses on the South side; they poyson their Arrows with Oleum Mediacum, so that nothing can allay the heat of the wound but a little dust, converted by St. Thomas.) hath in it besides the River Canac, between it and Armenia major, and the Lake Argis, whose fish dryed by the wind and sun raise these People a great advantage.

1. In the inhospitable Atropatria between Taurus and the Caspian Sea, whither its thought the Jews Captived by Salmanasser, are placed

1. Bochu by the Caspian Sea.
2. Strong Lres possуssed by the Turks, as an in-let to this Country.
3. Shamaki between Lres and Derbent, notorious for a Pillar of Flint-stones, interwoven with the heads of Persian Noblemen set there barbarously in terrorem.

2. In Media, especially so called, eminent for generous horses, fat Cattle, good Corn and Wine, and and excellent Water; was

1. Ruined Eobatana as stately as Babylon, formerly out of whose rubbish,
2. Tauris was built now Baronta under the shadow of Mount Orontes, a hundred and fifty miles from the Caspian Sea, opening S. towards a large and spacious Campagne, six miles round built of brick with flat Roofs and Battlements, as in all the East; well traded, and inhabited at least by 200000 persons, with a strong Citadel.
3. Caspin on the Ruines of Arsacia, very conveniently and pleasantly Scituated on a Riveret that serves for necessity and pleasure, but not for trade.
4. Rages.
5. Nasuana.
6. Ardoville.
7. Sultanives ruines and Mosches, environed alwayes with snowy Mountains.
8. The fair Market Tywan.
9. Turcoman.
10. Daman, i. e. a second Plantation at the foot of Taurus, where the Inhabitants think Noahs Ark rested.