Johann Baptist Homann (1664–1724) was a renowned German geographer, cartographer, and founder of one of the most important map publishing houses in 18th-century Europe. Born in Oberkammlach, Bavaria, he was educated as a Jesuit and initially prepared for an ecclesiastical career but later converted to Protestantism.
Homann moved to Nuremberg, where he began working as a notary and started his cartographic publishing business in 1702. He published his first atlas in 1707 and subsequently became a leading figure in German and European mapmaking. In 1715, he was appointed Imperial Geographer by Emperor Charles VI and made a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences.
Homann’s maps are noted for their scientific accuracy, artistry, elaborate cartouches, and Baroque style. His major publication, the “Grosser Atlas über die ganze Welt” (Great Atlas of the Whole World), established his reputation. The Homann publishing house continued after his death, influencing mapmaking well into the 19th century.
