Map of the Mughal Empire with a decorative title cartouche. Vegetative and mountainous regions are illustrated.

This map was used to illustrate the earliest English translation of the account by Francois Bernier of his travels and experiences in 17th century India. The work is entitled "History of the Late Revolution of the Empire of the Great Mogol". Bernier was the personal physician to Dara Shikoh, Shah Jahan's intended heir. In a brutal war in 1657-8, Aurangzeb, his brother, defeated Dara in battle, had him executed and ascended to the throne of the Great Mogul.  

Bernier escaped a similar fate and his series of letters and accounts formed one of the foremost sources for European understanding of the Moghul Empire during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

The map is a reduced version of the Baffin Roe map, drawn by William Baffin from the notes and manuscripts of Sir Thomas Roe in 1619. The first available edition of this map was issued by Samuel Purchas in 1625. This was the major and only source of regional mapping for India in the 17th century.  

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