Originally a two-part publication, geographer Wilhelm Tomaschek’s study on the historic topography of Persia is here published in one volume. Beginning with the street layout of the Tabula Peutingerana, the author describes the major routes of the Persian realm as reflected in the military roads of antiquity. The study then turns to the consideration of the various routes through the Persian wilderness. Before skillfully elucidating these routes, Tomaschek provides a physiographic introduction to the region that includes a discussion of the borders, orogenic features, geologic observations, present climatology, vegetation, and regional facets of the wilderness. Although reflecting the period of the Qajar Dynasty prior to the developments during the World Wars, this guide still provides historic information concerning the mapping of one of the great empires of the ancient world.

Wilhelm Tomaschek (1841-1901) was a geographer from the region of Austria and the Czech Republic as well as an Orientalist. He taught at the Universities of Graz and Vienna.