Historic Map : Tardieu Antique Map of Gaul or France in Ancient Roman Times, 1874, Vintage Wall Art

This is a beautiful 1874 map of Gaul or France in ancient Roman times issued by Ambroise Tardieu. It covers from the English Channel south as far as the Pyrenees Mountains and Hispania. It includes the modern day nations of France, Luin xembourg, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands.

Gaul was the ancient name of a region of Western Europe which comprises of modern day France, Luin xembourg, Belgium and Germany west of the Rhine. It also included most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy and parts of Netherland. After the Gallic Wars of 58-51 BC, all of Gaul came under the control of the Romans. It continued to remain under Roman control for almost 500 years before it fell to the Franks in AD 486. The Gallic Wars are believed to have been fought primarily to provide Caesar with wealth and popularity and to boost his political career rather than being a defensive action as described by Caesar. The campaigns are described by Caesar in his book Commentarii de Bello Gallico.

This map was prepared by Ambroise Tardieu and issued as plate 4 in his 1874 edition of Atlas Universel de Geographie Ancienne et Moderne.