Late 16th Century. Engraving Depicting African Trading Posts

The *Civites orbes terrarum*, from which this folio plate is taken, was published in Cologne, beginning with the first volume in 1572 and continuing through 1617 with the sixth and final volume. 
This timeline illustrates just how monumental a task it was to produce what is considered one of the first works of geography with a universal scope.
This plate features various vignettes of major African ports, which serve to dispel simplistic stereotypes. 
Kilwa( today in Tanzania) is depicted as a major port city that rivals Palermo, Genoa, or Hamburg.
More modest in scale are Mombasa, Quiloa, and Cefala.
Commercial traffic appears to be intense, judging by the European ships in Kilwa Bay.
While the accuracy of these depictions is, of course, open to question, they nonetheless remain significant as they reflect their place in the scientific corpus of the time. 
Modern archeology show now fantastique and opulent cities on africa est coast.
Note the vertical creases in the center, which are normal; it has been simply framed since the 1950s.
Good overall condition.