Map of
Russia in 1725, drawn by Philip Johan von Strahlenberg and Johan Anton von Matern
(
1676–
1747) was a
Swedish officer and
geographer of
German origin who made important contributions to the cartography of
Russia. Strahlenberg was born in
Stralsund, which then belonged to Sweden, and his original name was Philip Johan Tabbert. He joined the Swedish army in 1694 and was promoted captain in 1703. In 1707, he was ennobled and took the name von Strahlenberg.
Taking part in the
Great Northern War, he was captured by the victorious Russian forces during the
Battle of Poltava in 1709. As a
prisoner of war, he was sent to
Tobolsk, where he lived from 1711 to 1721. During this time, he studied the
geography of
Siberia and the
anthropology, languages and customs of its
native tribes. After returning to
Stockholm in 1730, he published his book
Russia, Siberia, and Great Tartary (Russia Observed) with the results of his studies. The book was well received and soon translated into
English,
French and
Spanish.
As part of his book, Strahlenberg and
Johan Anton von Matérn drew new maps of all of Russia - a formidable task in itself. He also suggested a definite border between the
continents of
Europe and
Asia in Russian territory. This border, follows the peaks of the
Urals, and then the lower
Emba River and the coast of the Caspian Sea, before passing through the
Kuma-Manych Depression.
Vasily Tatischev claimed that it was at his suggestion that Strahlenberg adopted the idea. See
Transcontinental nation for the current political and geographical debates about the Europe-Asia border.
Strahlenberg's book also extensively deal with the languages and customs of the
Tartars,
Yakuts,
Chuvash,
Crimean Tartars,
Uzbeks,
Bashkirs,
Kyrgyz,
Turkmen Tartars and
Mongols. In writing about the shamanic rituals about the indigenous peoples of Siberia, he noted their use of the fly agaric
mushroom (
Amanita muscaria) in their rituals.
See also
Works
Philip Johan von Strahlenberg:
Russia, Siberia, and Great Tartary (Russia Observed)
