Adam Olearius (born Adam Oehlschlaeger) (1603–1671), German scholar, mathematician, geographer and librarian. He became secretary to the ambassador sent by Frederick III of Holstein-Gottorp, duke of Holstein-Gottorp to the Shah of Persia, and published two books about the events and observations during his travels. King James I of England/VII of Scotland, the first monarch to rule the Kingdoms of England and Scotland at the same time Events March - Samuel de Champlain, French explorer, sails to Canada March 24 - Elizabeth I of England dies and is succeeded by her cousin King James I of... Events May 9 - Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempts to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... A geographer is a crazy psycho whose area of study is geocrap, the pseudoscientific study of Earths physical environment and human habitat and the study of boring students to death. ... The Librarian, a 1556 painting by Giuseppe Arcimboldo A librarian is a person who develops procedures for organizing information and provides services which assist and instruct people in the most efficient and effective ways to identify, locate, access, and use information and resources (articles, books, magazines, etc. ... Frederick III of Holstein-Gottorp (22 December 1597 – 10 August 1659) was a Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. ... Holstein-Gottorp or Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp was a duchy consisting of areas within Schleswig and Holstein, in present-day Denmark and Germany. ... Shah is an Iranian term (Persian and Kurdish) for king, and has also been adopted in many other languages. ... The term Persian Empire refers to a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau. ...

Travels

He was born at Aschersleben, near Magdeburg. After studying at Leipzig he became librarian and court mathematician to Duke Frederick III of Holstein-Gottorp, and in 1633 he was appointed secretary to the ambassadors Philip Crusius, jurisconsult, and Otto Bruggemann or Brugman, merchant, sent by the duke to Muscovy and Persia in the hope of making arrangements by which his newly-founded city of Friedrichstadt should become the terminus of an overland silk-trade. This embassy started from Gottorp on the 22 October 1633, and travelled by Hamburg, Lubeck, Riga, Dorpat (five months' stay), Revel, Narva, Ladoga and Novgorod to Moscow (August 14, 1634). Here they concluded an advantageous treaty with Michael Romanov, and returned forthwith to Gottorp (December 14, 1634-April 7, 1635) to procure the ratification of this arrangement from the duke, before proceeding to Persia. View over Aschersleben. ... View of Magdeburg with the cathedral, from the tower of the Johanniskirche Magdeburgs center has numerous Stalinist neo-classicist buildings Interior of the Cathedral of Magdeburg, looking towards the Grave of Otto I. The cathedrals twin spires, seen from the courtyard Unser Lieben Frauen Monastery Magdeburg, the capital... (help· info) [] (Sorbian/Lusatian: Lipsk) is the largest city in the Federal State (Bundesland) of Saxony in Germany. ... There were three rulers known as Frederick (German Friedrich) III of Germany: Frederick the Handsome, Duke of Austria from 1308 to 1330, who was elected as German King in the time of Louis the Bavarian (1326) as the result of a compromise between the Houses of Wittelsbach and Habsburg. ... Events February 13 - Galileo Galilei arrives in Rome for his trial before the Inquisition. ... Muscovy (Moscow principality (княжество Московское) to Grand Duchy of Moscow (Великое Княжество Московское) to Russian Tsardom (Царство Русское) is a traditional Western name for the Russian state that existed from the 14th century to the late 17th century. ... The term Persian Empire refers to a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau. ... Friedrichstadt is a city in Schleswig-Holstein. ... Silk weaver Silk is a natural protein fiber that can be woven into textiles. ... Gottorp in 1864 Gottorf (in Danish, Gottorp) is a palace and estate in the German city of Schleswig in the Bundesland of Schleswig-Holstein. ... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... Events February 13 - Galileo Galilei arrives in Rome for his trial before the Inquisition. ... Alster Lake at dusk Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and with Hamburg Harbour, its principal port. ... Statistics State: Schleswig-Holstein District: Independent city Area: 214. ... Riga (Latvian: RÄ«ga), the capital of Latvia, is situated on the Baltic Sea coast on the mouth of River Daugava, at 56°58′N 24°8′E. Riga is the largest city in the Baltic states and serves as a major cultural, educational, political, financial, commercial and industrial center... Image of Tartu street Tartu (German, Polish Dorpat, Russian Юpьeв Yuryev) is the second largest city of Estonia, with its population of 101,246 (the Population Census data is from 2000) in an area of 38. ... Revel is the name or part of the name of several communes in France: Revel, in the Haute-Garonne département Revel, in the Isère département Revel-Tourdan, in the Isère département Reval is the German name of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid... The reconstructed fortress of Narva (to the left) overlooking the Russian fortress of Ivangorod (to the right). ... Ladoga may refer to one of the following. ... Velikiy Novgorod (Russian: ) is the foremost historic city of North-Western Russia, situated on the M10(E95) federal highway connecting Moscow and St. ... Moscow (Russian: Москва́, Moskva, IPA: (help· info)) is the capital of Russia and the countrys principal political, economic, financial, educational and transportation center, located on the river Moskva. ... August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (227th in leap years), with 139 days remaining. ... Events Moses Amyrauts Traite de la predestination is published Curaçao captured by the Dutch Treaty of Polianovska First meeting of the Académie française The witchcraft affair at Loudun Jean Nicolet lands at Green Bay, Wisconsin Opening of Covent Garden Market in London English establish a settlement... Michael Romanov is the name that might be used to refer to any of several members of the House of Romanov, the ruling dynasty of the Empire of Russia from 1631 to 1917. ... December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events Moses Amyrauts Traite de la predestination is published Curaçao captured by the Dutch Treaty of Polianovska First meeting of the Académie française The witchcraft affair at Loudun Jean Nicolet lands at Green Bay, Wisconsin Opening of Covent Garden Market in London English establish a settlement... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... Events February 10 - The Académie française in Paris is expanded to become a national academy for the artistic elite. ...

With this accomplished, they started afresh from Hamburg on the 22nd of October 1635, arrived at Moscow on 29 March 1636; and left Moscow on the 30th of June for Balakhna near Nizhniy Novgorod, to where they had already sent agents (in 1634/1635) to prepare a vessel for their descent of the Volga. Their voyage down the great river and over the Caspian Sea was slow and hindered by accidents, especially by grounding, as near Derbent on the 14 November 1636; but at last, by way of Shemakha (three months' delay here), Ardebil, Soltaniyeh and Kasvin, they reached the Persian court at Isfahan (August 3, 1637), and were received by the shah (August 16). March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (89th in Leap years). ... Events February 24 - King Christian of Denmark gives an order that all beggars that are able to work must be sent to Brinholmen Island to build ships or as galley rowers March 26 - Utrecht University founded in The Netherlands. ... Balakhna (Балахна in Russian) is a town in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast in Russia. ... Area  - Total 260,000 mi² Population  - City (2003)  - Metropolitan 1,334,249 2 million approx. ... For other meanings of the word Volga see Volga (disambiguation) Волга Length 3,690 km Elevation of the source 225 m Average discharge  ? m³/s Area watershed 1. ... Caspian Sea viewed from orbit The Caspian Sea is a landlocked endorheic sea between Asia and Europe (European Russia). ... Darband is built around a Sassanid fortress, the only one preserved in the world. ... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining. ... Events February 24 - King Christian of Denmark gives an order that all beggars that are able to work must be sent to Brinholmen Island to build ships or as galley rowers March 26 - Utrecht University founded in The Netherlands. ... Shemakha is a town in Azerbaijan, 70 miles west of the national capital Baku, and in 40 38 N. and 48 40 E. It has some 20,000 inhabitants, formerly consisting of Azerbaijanis (75%), Armenians and Russians. ... Ardabil (in persian: اردبیل other name: Ardebil ancient name: Artavil ) a historical city in north-western Iran. ... Soltaniyeh, situated in the Province of Zanjan, some 240 km to the north-west from Tehran, used to be the capital of Ilkhanid rulers of Persia in the 14th century. ... Part of Shah Abbas large urban project in his new capital, the Chahār Bāgh Four Gardens, is a four-kilometer avenue in the city of Isfahan. ... August 3 is the 215th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (216th in leap years), with 150 days remaining. ... Events February 3 - Tulipmania collapses in Netherlands by government order February 15 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor December 17 - Shimabara Rebellion erupts in Japan Pierre de Fermat makes a marginal claim to have proof of what would become known as Fermats last theorem. ... Shah is an Iranian term (Persian and Kurdish) for king, and has also been adopted in many other languages. ... August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

Negotiations here were not as successful as at Moscow, and the embassy left Isfahan on the 21 December 1637, and returned home by Resht, Lenkoran, Astrakhan, Kazan, Moscow, and other places. At Revel Olearius parted from his colleagues (April 15, 1639) and embarked directly for Lubeck. On his way he had made a chart of the Volga, and partly for this reason Tsar Michael wished to either persuade or compel him to enter his service. Once back at Gottorp, Olearius became librarian to the duke, who also made him keeper of his cabinet of curiosities, and induced the tsar to excuse his (promised) return to Moscow. Under his care the Gottorp library and cabinet were greatly enriched in manuscripts, books, and oriental and other works of art: in 1651 he purchased, for this purpose, the collection of the Dutch scholar and physician, Bernard ten Broecke ("Paludanus"). He died at Gottorp on the 22 February 1671. December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events February 3 - Tulipmania collapses in Netherlands by government order February 15 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor December 17 - Shimabara Rebellion erupts in Japan Pierre de Fermat makes a marginal claim to have proof of what would become known as Fermats last theorem. ... Map of Iran and surrounding countries, showing location of Rasht Rasht (sometimes spelled Resht) is the capital of Gilan province in northwestern Iran (Persia). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Lankaran. ... Astrakhan coat of arms features the Khans crown and a sabre Astrakhan (Russian: ; Tatar: Ästerxan), a major city in southern European Russia and the administrative center of Astrakhan Oblast. ... Kazan (Tatar Qazan, Казан; Russian Казань) is the capital city of Tatarstan and one of Russias largest cities. ... Moscow (Russian: Москва́, Moskva, IPA: (help· info)) is the capital of Russia and the countrys principal political, economic, financial, educational and transportation center, located on the river Moskva. ... Revel is the name or part of the name of several communes in France: Revel, in the Haute-Garonne département Revel, in the Isère département Revel-Tourdan, in the Isère département Reval is the German name of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... Events January 14 - Connecticuts first constitution, the Fundamental Orders, is adopted. ... Statistics State: Schleswig-Holstein District: Independent city Area: 214. ... For other meanings of the word Volga see Volga (disambiguation) Волга Length 3,690 km Elevation of the source 225 m Average discharge  ? m³/s Area watershed 1. ... Musei Wormiani Historia, the frontispiece from the Museum Wormianum depicting Ole Worms cabinet of curiosities. ... Look up Tsar in Wiktionary, the free dictionary For the US community of Czar, see Czar, West Virginia. ... // Events January 1 - Charles II crowned King of Scotland in Scone. ... February 22 is the 53rd day of every year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events May 9 - Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempts to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. ...

Books

It is by his admirable narrative of the Russian and the Persian legation (Beschreibung der muscowitischen und persischen Reise, (Schleswig, 1647, and afterwards in several enlarged editions, 1656, etc.) that Olearius is best known, though he also published a history of Holstein (Kurtzer Begriff einer holsteinischen Chronic, Schleswig, 1663), a famous catalogue of the Holstein-Gottorp cabinet (1666), and a translation of the Gulistan (Persianisches Rosenthal, Schleswig, 1654), to which was appended a translation of the fables of Lokman. A French version of the Beschreibung was published by Abraham de Wicquefort (Voyages en Moscovie, Tartarie et Perse, par Adam Olearius, Paris, 1656), an English version was made by John Davies of Kidwelly (Travels of the Ambassadors sent by Frederic, Duke of Holstein, to the Great Duke of Muscovy and the King of Persia, London, 1662; and ed., 1669), and a Dutch translation by Dieterius van Wageningen (Beschrijvingh van de nieuwe Parciaensche ofte Orientaelsche Reyse, Utrecht, 1651); an Italian translation of the Russian sections also appeared (Viaggi di Moscovia, Viterbo and Rome, 1658). Paul Flemming the poet and J. A. de Mandelslo, whose travels to the East Indies are usually published with those of Olearius, accompanied the embassy. Under Olearius' direction the celebrated globe of Gottorp and armillary sphere were executed between 1654 and 1664; the globe was given to Peter the Great of Russia in 1713 by Duke Frederick's grandson, Christian Augustus. Olearius' unpublished works include a Lexicon Persicum and several other Persian studies. Holstein (Hol-shtayn) (Low German: Holsteen, Danish: Holsten, Latin and historical English: Holsatia) is the southern part of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany, between the rivers Elbe and Eider. ... Lokman (c. ... The Indies, on the display globe of the Field Museum, Chicago The Indies or East Indies (or East India) is a term used to describe lands of South and South-East Asia, occupying all of the former British India, the present Indian Union, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and... Armillary sphere An armillary sphere (also known as spherical astrolabe) is a model of the celestial sphere, invented by Eratosthenes in 255 BC. Its name comes from the Latin armilla (circle, bracelet), since it has a skeleton made of graduated metal circles linking the poles and representing the equator, the... Events April 5 - Signing of the Treaty of Westminster, ending the First Anglo-Dutch War. ... Events March 12 - New Jersey becomes a colony of England. ... Portrait of Peter by Paul Delaroche Peter I (Russian: Пётр I Алексеевич or Pyotr I Alexeyevich) (Peter Alexeyevich Romanov) (9 June 1672–8 February 1725 [30 May 1672– 28 January 1725 O.S.] )Russia from 7 May (27 April O.S.) 1682 until his death. ... // Events April 11 - War of the Spanish Succession: Treaty of Utrecht June 23 - French residents of Acadia given one year to declare allegiance to Britain or leave Nova Scotia Canada first Orrery built by George Graham Ongoing events Great Northern War (1700-1721) War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713... Christian Augustus of Anhalt-Zerbst (November 29, 1690 - March 16, 1747) married, on November 8, 1727, Johanna Elisabeth von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp (October 24, 1712 - May 30, 1760). ...

By his lively and well-informed writing he introduced Germany (and the rest of Europe) to Persian literature and culture. Montesquieu depended on him for local color in writing his satiric Lettres Persanes (Persian Letters, 1721), though he used the French translation, Relation de voyage de Moscovie, Tartarie et de Perse. Among his many translations of Persian literature into German are Saadi's Golistan: Persianischer Rosenthal. In welchem viel lustige Historien ... von ... Schich Saadi in Persianischer Sprache beschrieben. printed in Schleswig by Holwein in 1654. Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one. ... Persian literature is literature written in Persian. ... Portrait of Montesquieu in 1728 Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (January 18, 1689 – February 10, 1755), more commonly known as Montesquieu, was a French political thinker who lived during the Enlightenment. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Persian Letters Persian Letters is a satirical story of two Persian brothers, Usbek and Rica, traveling through France by Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu. ... Tomb of Sadi, Shiraz, Iran. ... Events April 5 - Signing of the Treaty of Westminster, ending the First Anglo-Dutch War. ...

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

Encyclopædia Britannica, the 11th edition The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911) is perhaps the most famous edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...

External links

• Excerpts of English translation of his voyages