Asia

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Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

ASIA succeeds Africke in my division. This name was allotted it from the Nymph Asia (as Varro witnesseth) of whom and Iapetus Prometheus was borne: Others say it was so called either of Asius the sonne of Atys, or from Asius the Philosopher, who gave the Palladium of Troy to the custodie of the Citie, for which, that they might gratifie him, his whole dominions (which before was called Epirus) they called Asia. And from hence afterward, as from the more noble part, all the whole tract of Land began to bee called Asia. Moreover, as Lybia doth both signifie a third part of the World, and a part of this part: So it is observed, that Asia doth signifie both the whole Continent, and that part which is hem'd in with the Mountaine Taurus, wherein doe dwell the Lydians, the Carians, the Lycaonians, Paphlagonians, Ionians, Aeolians, and others; which part, for distinction sake, is commonly called Asia the Lesse: the Turkes call it Natolia. There is saith Varro, Lib. 4. an Asia which is distinguisht from Europe, in which is Syria: and there is an Asia which is called the former part of Asia, in which is Ionia, and our Province. But all Asia is called in the Holy Scriptures Semia. It is almost wholly situated in the Northerne part of the World from the Aequinoctiall Circle, to the 80th degree of Northerne Latitude, except some Ilands pertaining to Asia, some whereof are stretched out beyond the Aequator Southward. Hence arises a great difference through all Asia, in the length of the artificiall dayes. For in the last Parallel, which is drawne not farre from the Aequinoctiall, the longest day is almost twelve houres. About the middle of Asia, the longest day is fifteene houres, and in the most Northerne Parallel their light continually endureth almost for foure whole Moneths in Summer. According to the Longitude, Asia is stretched forth from the Meridian of 52. degrees, even to the Meridian of 196. according to some: but if we follow the description of Mercator, the most Westerne Meridian thereof passeth through the 57th degree neare to the furthest Westerne part of Asia the Lesse; and the most Easterne Meridian through the 178th degree. On the North it hath the Scythian Sea, on the South the Indian, on the East the Easterne Sea, on the West the Bay of Arabia, or the red Sea; the Mediterranean and Euxine Seas. And as in the higher part it cleaveth to Europe, so in the Southerne part it is joyned to Africke by an Isthmus: yet Pliny and Strabo with some others doe stretch out Asia even to Nilus, and doe reckon all Egypt to Asia. In Asia the face of the skie is both pleasant and wholesome, the Aire milde and temperate. Yet all Asia doth not feele this temperatenesse: for the right hand and left hand parts thereof are exceeding hot and cold. The pleasantnesse of this Country is so great, that it became a Proverbe: All the Land is so renowned both for the fertilitie of the fields, the varietie of fruits, and large pasturing of cattell, and for the abundant plenty of those things which are exported, that it doth easily excell all other Countries. Here is wonderfull plenty of Fruits, Spices, and Mettalls. Hence we receive Balsam, sweet Canes, Frankincense, Myrrhe, Cassia, Cinnamon, Gariophylus, Pepper, Saffron, sweet Woods, Rozine, Muske, and all kinde of precious stones. Here we may behold many different sorts of living Creatures. For it bringeth forth a number of Elephants, Camells, and many other living Creatures both tame and wilde: we may here also admire the wits, riches, and power of the Inhabitants. Here Man was first created by God; here was the first Seat of the Church of God; here Artes were first invented; here were Lawes first made; here the Doctrine of the Gospell first granted to miserable mortall men, with the hope of Salvation through Jesus Christ the Sonne of God. Here the confusion of Languages was sent downe amongst men, in the destruction of the Tower of Babel. Here first Dominion over inferiours began. Here Nimrod began to raigne, of whom we reade in Genesis. But the first Monarchs of the whole Country of Asia were the Assyrians, the last whereof was Sardanapalus, a man given to wantonnesse, and effeminate softnesse, who being found by Arbactus amongst a crew of whores, and not long after being overcome by him in battaile, hee made a great fire, and cast himselfe and his riches thereinto. Afterward the Empire came to the Persians: Among whom Xerxes the sonne of Darius did maintaine a warre, begun by his father, five yeares against Greece, and he brought out of Asia into Europe an army of ten hundred thousand men, and passed them over a bridge which he built over Hellespont: he came also accompanied with ten hundred thousand ships, but with a vaine endeavour; for he that durst threaten God, insult over the Sea, put fetters upon Neptune, darken the Heavens, levell Mountains, and shake the whole World, was faine, his army being put to flight, to passe over the narrow Sea in a fisher-boate, the Bridge being broken by the tempests of Winter. Darius was the last Persian Emperour, whose being conquered & overcome by Alexander, made way to the Monarchie of the Macedonians, for Alexander did first translate it out of Asia into Europe. All Asia, according to the severall government thereof, may thus be divided. The first part is under the Turkes command, the originall whereof is from Mahomet, and is a large Territory. The Duke of Moscovia doth possesse a second part, enclosed with the frozen Sea, the River Oby, the Lake Kitaia, and a Line drawne thence to the Caspian Sea, and to the Isthmus which is betweene this Sea and Pontus. The Great Cham Emperour of Tartarie doth possesse the third part, whose borders on the South are, the Caspian Sea, the River Iaxartes, and the Mountaine Imaus; on the East and North the Ocean: on the West the Kingdome of Moscovia. The King of Persia, called the Sophie, hath the fourth. This hath on the West side the Turke; on the North the Tartarian, on the South it is washed with the Red Sea, but on the East with the River Indus. The fift part doth containe India, both on this side and beyond Ganges; which is not governed by one alone, but by many Rulers, for every Country thereof hath almost a severall Prince, some whereof are tributarie to the great Cham. The sixt part contayneth the large Kingdome of China. The seaventh containeth all the Islands scattered up and downe in the Indian and Easterne Sea. Among which are Tabrobana and Zetlan, the two Iava found out not long since by the Portugalls, Borneo, Celebes, Palohan, Mindanao, Gilolo, with the spice bearing Moluccoes, also Iapan, with Nova Guinea lastly found out; concerning which it is not yet known whether it be an Island, or joyned to the Southern Continent. But the Ancients, as Strabo and Arrianus, have made many divisions of it. Ptolomie doth divide it into 47. Countries and Provinces, the description whereof hee delivers in his fift, sixt, and seaventh Bookes of Geographic, and doth set them forth in twelve Tables. It hath three Cities famous through the whole World, Babylon, Ninivie, and Ierusalem. It hath great Lakes full of fish, and the Caspian Sea in manner of a Lake, which never commeth to the Ocean. Also many Rivers, among which the chiefest are Tigris, Euphrates, which Moses mentioneth in Genesis, Iordane, Indus, Ganges, &c. Here are also great and wonderfull Mountaines, among which is the Mountaine Taurus, which comming from the Easterne shoare, divides all Asia; on the right hand where it first riseth from the Indian Sea, it beareth Northwards: on the left hand, it is Southerne and bending toward the West, untill the Seas meet with it: as here the Phaenician, & the Ponticke. There the Caspian and Hyrcanian Seas, together with the Meoticke Lake; as if Nature on purpose had opposed it: But though this Mountaine bee shut as it were betweene these bounds, yet with many windings it runneth forth even as far as the neighbouring Cliffs of the Rhiphaean Mountains, being famous wheresoever it goeth; and knowne by many new names. At first it is called Imaus, and by and by Emodus, Paropanisius, Circius, Chambades, Pharphariades, Croates, Oreges, Oroandes, Niphates, and Taurus: where it doth as it were exceed it selfe Caucasus, where it spreadeth its armes as if it would embrace the Sea, Sarpedon, Coracesius, and Cragus, and againe Taurus. But where it openeth it selfe, it taketh its name from the Havens, which are sometimes called the Armenian, elsewhere the Caspian, and Cilician. The bredth of it in most places is three thousand furlongs, which is 5625. Italian miles: that is, from the Coast of Rhodes, even to the farthest bounds of China and Tartaria. But of these things enough. I passe now to the publicke workes, which have beene heretofore very stately and magnificent, and worthy to bee numbred among the seaven Miracles of the World. Amongst them the first were the walls of Babylon, which Semiramis built, or at least did repaire being ruinate, with brickes joyned and laid in a pitchy kind of mortar, they were two hundred foot high and fiftie broade, so that Chariots might meet thereon; they had three hundred Towers, and should have had more, but that in some parts the Marshes were insteed of walls. It is reported that for this so great a worke three hundred thousand workemen were employed. Herodotus reporteth, that the walls of Babylon were fiftie royall cubits thicke, and two hundred high, and round about there were placed in them a hundred brazen Gates. The second was the Temple of Diana of Ephesus, which was built by all Asia in two hundred and twenty yeares, as Histories doe testifie: And it was seated in a Moorish place, least it should be endangered by Earthquakes; And least they should place the foundation of so great a building upon unfirme ground, they strewed it over with coales trodden downe, and on it they laid fleeces of wooll. The length of the Temple was 425. feet, the breadth 220. The Pillars in it were an hundred and seaven and twenty, all made by severall Kings, of which 36. were carved: Ctesiphon was the overseer of the worke. There was also a Monument which Artemesia Queene of Caria did erect in memory of her deceased husband, which is to bee counted among the wonders of the World; it being 25. Cubits high, and compassed about with thirty Pillars: it was sixe and thirty foote wide Northward and Southward. Lastly, there was that magnificent Temple, which Salomon began to build in the fourth yeare of his raigne, not unfit to be reckoned with the seaven wonders of the World. First of all, thirty thousand men were set to cut trees, as Cedars and Cypresse in Lebanon: and there were fourescore thousand stone-cutters. The bredth of the Temple was twenty Cubits, the length sixtie, and the height an hundred and twenty. The matter of the nethermost building was of white stone: the largenesse of the Porch was ten Cubits, there were twenty secret chambers, passing one into another, and others placed under these. The beames were of Cedar, the roofes of Cedar guilded over, and the walls in like manner: The Sanctuary of the Holy place was distinguished from the body of the Temple with a wall, in which were carved gates, with drawing Curtaines enterwoven with many flowers and winding borders: besides two Cherubins of pure gold, the pavement under foot was beset with studdes of gold: the gates were twenty Cubits in height, and twelve in compasse. There was a brazen vessell of so great a bignesse, that it was fitly called the Sea; round about which stood twelve Calves, three together, and looking severally toward the foure corners of the World. This vessell did hold three thousand measures containing 72. Sextaries. There were also other figures, which it would be too long to rehearse. There was a brazen Altar of ten foot height, & double as much in length. Also one golden Table, and ten thousand golden Pots and Dishes, &c. But let these things suffice which have beene spoken of this part of the Word: I come now to America the fourth part of the World.

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

Of ASIA, and the Provinces thereof.

ASIA, The third division of the World, is separated from EVROPE by the Egean Propontis, and Euxine Sea, by Paulus Maeotis, Tanais, Duina, and from AFRICA by the red Sea, and the Egyptian •…stmus, as I remembred in the beginning of this Worke. Five notable things have made this Countrey famous, and have giuen it the garland of supremacie over all the other parts of the World. First, the Creation of Mankind: Secondly, the Birth of our Savi•…ur; his Miracles wrought, and place of his sufferance: Thirdly, the Actions memorized by the holy Pen-men of the Old and New Testament: Fourthly, the famous Monarchies of the Babylonians, Assirians, Persians, and Medes: And fifthly, being the common Mother of us all, from whence innumerable troupes of men issued to people the other parts of the unhabited World, of which see other Authors further at large.

The principall Regions of ASIA, are

And of these in briefe according to my first intention.

1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome

ASIA is one of the Tripartite division of our Continent; and if we consider the advantages which the Author of Nature hath given it, if the Actions which have passed in it both before and after the Flood; that the first Monarchies, and all Religions have here had their beginnings; that the chief Mysteries (both of the Old and New Law) have there been laid open; we may be induced to prefer in before all other parts, either of the one or other Continent.

And as of the two Continents ours is much the greater, the more noble, and most considerable; so is Asia among the three parts of our Continent, the Greatest, the most Oriental, the most Temperate, and the Richest.

Its Extent from West to East is from the 55th Meridian or degree of Longitude unto the 180, containing 125 degrees of Longitude, which are about 2500 of our common Leagues; and from South to North from the Equator to the 72 Parallel or degree of Latitude, which is 72 degrees of Latitude, and makes about 1800 of our Leagues. In this length and breadth we do not comprehend the Islands which belong to Asia, which are as great, as rich, and possibly as numerous, as all the rest of the Universe.

Its Scituation, for the most part, is between the Circular Tropick of Cancer, and the Circle of the Artick Pole scarce extending it self beyond this, but surpassing the other in divers of its Isles, which it expands under the Equator: so that almost all Asia is scituate in the Temperate Zone; what it hath under the Torrid, being either Peninsula's or Isles, which the Waters and Sea may easily refresh.

ASIA being the greatest, the best, and most temperate part of our Continent, it must by consequence be the richest; which not only appears in the goodness and excellencies of its Grains, Vines, Fruits, Herbs, &c. but likewise in its great quantities of Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, Spices, Drugs, and other Commodities and Rarities, which it sends forth and communicates to other parts, and particularly to Europe.

Amongst the three divisions of our Continent, Asia is that which hath the fairest advantage for its greatness, and for its scituation; being that Country which saw the Creation of the first Man, the making of the first Woman; which fed the first Patriarks, gave a place to the Terrestrial Paradise; that which received the Ark of Noah after the Flood; which was the Portion of Sem, the eldest Son of Noah, which built the Tower of Babel, which furnished the rest of the World with Inhabitants; which established the Monarchies of the Assyrians, Medes, Babylonians, and Persians; which formed the Arts and Sciences, Letters and Laws; which first and after the Law of Nature received Paganism, Judaism, Christianity, and Mahumetanism; which saw the Birth, Life, Death, and Resurrection of the Saviour of the World: And therefore for all these Reasons we ought to esteem Asia much above either Africa or Europe. But let us proceed to its Name, Bounds, and Divisions.

The Name of ASIA is derived diversly by sundry Authors, but whether it took its name from a Virgin-Woman, or a Philosopher; whether from some City, Country, or Marish, or from whatever it were, most certain it is, that that Name was first known to the Greeks, on that Coast opposite to them towards the East; afterwards it was given to that Region which extends to the Euphrates, and which is called Asia Minor, and was communicated to all the most Oriental Regions of our Continent.

Its Bounds are towards the North, with the Northern frozen, or Scythian Ocean, to wit, that which washes Tartary; on the East and South with the Oriental or Indian Ocean, the Parts of which are the Seas of China, India, and Arabia. Towards the West, Asia is separated from Africa by the Red-Sea, from the Streight of Babel-Mandel unto the Isthmus of Suez; and from Europe, by the Archipelago, by the Sea of Marmora, and by the Black-Sea; drawing a Line cross all these Seas, and passing by the Streight of Galipoli, or the Dardanelles; by the Streight of Constantinople, or Chanel of the Black-Sea, by the Streight of Caffa or Vospero; the Line continuing by the Sea of Zabaque, and by the Rivers of Don or Tana, of Volga and of Oby, where they are joyned the nearest one to another.

Asia may be divided into firm Land, and Islands; the firm Land comprehends the Kingdoms of Turkey in Asia, Arahia, Persia, India, China, and Tartary: We will follow this order, and then end with the Isles.

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

This part of the World, which is called the Levant, by reason of its scituation on the East of Europe, and of Africa, is the greatest of the three, which compose our Continent. Its Length from the West to the East, is full two thousand, five hundred French Leagues from the Western parts of Natolia, to the most Eastern parts of China. If we include herein the Territories of Tartary, as far as the Channel of Piecko, and the Streight of Ʋries, which separate it from the Land of Jesso, this length would contain above thirty Degrees of Longitude more. The Breadth of Asia, without comprehending therein the Islands, is seventy two Degrees, which make above eighteen hundred of the forementioned Leagues, and all this in the Northern Temperate Zone, except some Peninsula's, which are in the Torrid Zone.

Several do believe that the Terrestrial Paradice was in Asia, and so that Adam was Created there. Asia was the Lot of Sem, the Eldest of Noah's Sons. God has wrought herein the principal Mysteries of the ancient and new Law, and therein Jesus Christ was born. 'Twas in Asia, that Man did first breath. From Asia came the Customs, Religions, Manners, Laws, and Learning, which after the Universal Deluge, spread themselves into other parts of the Earth. Asia is famous for the Monarchies of the Assyrians, Medes, Babylonians, Persians, and Califfs; for the Phoenician People, who first taught the Greeks, and other Nations, a good part of the Arts and Sciences.

The four principal Religions are followed there: The Jewish, the Mahometan, and Idolatrous, more than the Christian: Idolatry began there among the Assyrians; Judaism amongst the Hebrews; Christianity in the Holy Land; and Mahometism in Arabia.

Several Missions have been established there by Christian Princes, those of Turkey, under the Protection of France; those of the Indies, under the Protection of Portugal; those of the Philippines, under the Protection of Castile. There are four Archbishopricks, and seven Bishopricks, in the East-Indies, where likewise the Jesuits have three Provinces, that of Goa, that of Malabar, and that of Japan. Since the Peace of the Year 1659, France sent thither the Bishops of Heliopolis, Metellopolis, Berite, and Caesarea, with design of setling Christianity, and of carrying it as far as into China. They have made considerable progresses, notwithstanding the impositions of the Spaniards, who would have impos'd on the Bishop of Heliopolis, Intreagues of affairs of State, and made him take a turn round the World without his desiring it. Mahometism is receiv'd by the four principal Nations of Asia, by the Turks, Arabians, Persians, and Tartars. The Turks in matters of Religion, are the freest, the Arabians, the most superstitious, the Persians, the most rational, and the Tartars, the most simple. Some make up the number of seventy two Sects of them, which are commonly reduced to two, to that of the Turks, following the Doctrin of Homar, and to that of the Persians, according to the Doctrin of Hali. These last have their Patriarch at Ispahan; the Turks have theirs at Bagdad. The Greeks have theirs, who bear the names of Antioch, and Jerusalem. There be still other Schismaticks, Jacobites, who have their Patriarch at Caramit; Nestorians, Cophites, Georgiens; Syrians, who bear the name of their Chief, and not of Syria; And Armenians. These last have two Patriarcks, the one at Nassivan in Media, the other at Ciz in Cilicia. The Maronites have theirs at Canobin in Mount Libanus. The Papists boast of having brought over several to their Church, within a few years past.

Asia towards the West, is separated from Africa, by the Red Sea, and by the Isthmus of Sues: It is divided from Europe, by several Seas, and Streights, which I shall enumerate in the Article upon Europe. Towards the other Regions of the World, Asia is environ'd with the Ocean, known under the Name of Tartary, towards the North; under that of China, towards the East; and under that of the Indies, towards the South. Some have endeavoured to persuade us, that the Hollanders have of late traded into Japan, by the Sea of Tartary; if this be true, those people keep that Voyage very secret, and are much afraid that other Nations should have any knowledge thereof. The principal Seas within the Inland Country, are the Caspian, which now receives other Names from the Provinces, and Cities which are near it. It has salt Waters, tho' it has the Fish of Fresh Waters: This made the Ancients believe, in that it communicated with the Ocean, it may well communicate with some Sea, by the subterraneous Meatus: It receives several great Rivers, and nevertheless does not swell. The Sea El-Catif, is that of Persia. The Dead Sea is small in respect of others, yet it is famous by reason of the Holy Land, where it is; It has this name of the Dead Sea given it, because its Waters have no Motion.

The principal Rivers of Asia are, the Euphrates, Tigris, Indus, Ganges, Quiam, and Obi.

Caucasus, and Taurus, so celebrated by the Ancients, are the highest Mountains in this part of the World; The Inhabitants of the Country have them under other Names.

The Air, almost of all Asia, is found to be temperate. If we consider its Gold, Silver, precious Stones, Drugs, Spices, Silk, Stuffs; we must own, that it is the richest, as well as the most temperate, part of the World. The fishing for Pearls is in three principal places, at the Isle Baharem in the Persian Sea, the Island Manar upon the Coast of the Indus, and that of Ainan near China. Amongst the Products of Asia, they esteem the Diamonds of Golconda and Narsin•a, the Pepper and Ginger of Malabar, the Stuffs of Bengala, the Rubies and Lacca of Pegu, the Dainties and Knacks of China; the Cinnamon of Ceilan, the Gold of Sumatra, the Camphire of Borneo, the Cloves of the Molucco's, the Nutmegs of Banda, the Sanders of Timor.

Four of the seven Wonders of the World, were in Asia; the Temple of Diana at Ephesus, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Walls of Babylon, the Colossus at Rhodes; the Statue of Jupiter Olympicus, was in Europe, the Pharos, and the Pyramids, in Africa.

The Asiaticks have ever been a people addicted to pleasures, except some Tartars, who by their incursions incommode their Neighbours continually; they love fish more than flesh, wherefore Priests, in their Fasts and Lents, eat only flesh.

Asia is under the Dominion of Potent Monarchs, who can easily bring great Armies on foot; of whom those of the Turks are the best Disciplin'd. The most considerable of those Sovereigns, are the Grand Segnior, who resides in Europe; the King of Persia; the Great Cham of Tartary, at present, King of China in part; and the great Mogul. Several other great Princes are in Georgia, Arabia, Tartary, in the Indies, and in most of the Islands. Divers people maintain their liberty in the Mountains. The principal place of the Conquests of Portugal, is Goa, that of the Hollandens, Jacatra, otherwise Batavia, in the Isle of Java. The English and the French, have their chief place of Traffick at Surat. The Spaniards possess the Philippine Islands, the Moscovites sway the best part of the Desart of Tartary, which commonly be attributed to Asia.

In the division of this part of the World, some Authors make it to be Inferior, and Exterior, in respect of Mount Taurus. By this same Mountain the Greeks have made it a Citerior, or Northorn, and Ʋlterior, or Southern in respect of them; we divide it into Terra-firma and Islands. The Countrys of the Terra, firma, are towards the West, the Asian Turky, Georgia, and Arabia; towards the middle Persia; towards the North Tartary; towards the East China; towards the South India, divided into Terra-firma, which is the Empire of the Mogul, and into two Peninsula's, the one on this, and the other on that, side the Ganges. The Islands are in the Eastern Sea, that is, that of the Indies, where are found to be the greatest Riches, and perhaps in greater number, than in all the rest of the Universe. These Islands are the Maldives, Ceilan, those of the Sound, and Japan, the Philippins, and the Moluccoes. There are some Islands of Asia in the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus, Rhodes, and others in the Archipelago.

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