The account of his first journey, published in 1665 as Relation d’un voyage fait au Levant, established Jean de Thévenot as a significant observer of the Ottoman Empire.
Early European and Mediterranean Journeys
Born in 1633, Thévenot received his education at the Collège de Navarre in Paris. In 1652, he began his travels through England, the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy. After meeting D'Herbelot in Rome, he intended to travel to the Levant as a companion, but eventually sailed alone from Malta to Constantinople in 1655. He spent time in Smyrna and the Greek islands before arriving in Alexandria on New Year's Day, 1657. During this period, he visited Cairo and Sinai, joined a pilgrim caravan to Jerusalem, and observed the opening of the canal during the rise of the Nile in 1658.
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Thévenot's maritime travels were frequently perilous, involving encounters with corsairs. Following his experiences in Egypt and Palestine, he sailed from Alexandria in January 1659. His ship stopped at Goletta and Tunis before engaging in combat with Spanish corsairs, eventually arriving in Livorno in April 1659. Following this return to Europe, he dedicated four years to studies deemed useful for his future expeditions, preparing for further exploration of the East.
Exploration of Asia
In November 1663, he departed for the East again, landing at Sidon and traveling by land through Damascus, Aleppo, and Mesopotamia. He entered Persia in 1664, visiting Kermanshah, Hamadan, and Isfahan. He later traveled with the merchant Tavernier to Bandar-Abbas. Finding transit to India difficult due to Dutch opposition, he returned to Shiraz, visited the ruins of Persepolis, and eventually sailed for India on the ship Hopewell in 1665. He arrived in Surat in January 1666, spending thirteen months exploring the country before returning to Bandar-Abbas and eventually settling in Isfahan.
Scientific Observations and Legacy
Beyond his role as a cartographer and explorer, Thévenot was a polyglot proficient in Arabic, Turkish, and Persian. His scientific interests included botany, and he assembled extensive collections during his time in India. While in Isfahan in 1667, he suffered from a wound resulting from an accidental pistol shot. He attempted to travel to Tabriz in October but died in Mianeh on 28 November 1667. His collected writings, including the second and third parts of his journals, were published posthumously in Paris in 1674 and 1684.
Fast facts
- Born: 1633, Paris
- Died: 28 November 1667, Mianeh
- Burial place: Tabriz
- Education: Collège de Navarre, University of Paris
- Languages: French, Arabic, Turkish, Persian
- Occupations: Explorer, cartographer, linguist, botanist
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Thévenot document during his travels?
He focused on geography, botany, and local customs, including historical accounts such as the origins of the Achtiname of Muhammad.
How was his work preserved after his death?
His journals were collected and published in Paris in 1674 and 1684, with a comprehensive edition appearing in 1689.
Achievements
- Recorded as explorer and cartographer
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