The engraving depicts the Masjid al-Haram. The Masjid al-Haram engraving was produced by Pierre Gabriel Berthault. The image appeared in the General Table of the Ottoman Empire. The multiple volume series was explored the history of the Ottoman Empire. This gave French scholars at the time a source of information on West Asia. During the Rule of the Ottoman Empire the Great Mosque of Mecca underwent several renovations. The mosque holds much importance to Muslims. Masjid al-Haram is one of the places in which hajj and umrah pilgrimages take place. Every Muslim is expected to do this if they are able. At the center of the courtyard is the Ka ‘bah. The engraving shows the Ka ‘bah prominently displayed. Around the structure is where the circumambulation ritual tawaf takes place. The origin of Ka ‘bah did not start with Islam. The polytheists of Arabia used it as a place of worship.
The World History Archive and Compendium 