Why is Entwurf einer historischen Architektur important in the history of architectural writing?

Entwurf einer historischen Architektur (1721), written by the Austrian architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, is significant in the history of architectural writing because it was the first successful comparative study of architecture.1

The work is recognized as the first comparative history covering the architecture of all times and all nations. It demonstrated a wide range of learning by including significant examples of Egyptian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Muslim, Indian, and Chinese architecture, all presented through engravings and explanatory notes.2

Beyond its historical survey, the book is notable for its inclusion of high-quality archaeological reconstructions, which were considered among the best of the period. Fischer von Erlach concluded the work by positioning his own architectural achievements as a logical continuation of the Roman tradition, thereby framing his contemporary practice within a broader historical context.2