Aral sea on maps of the middle ages and modern times

Abstract

The study was conducted at the intersection of historical geography and cartography, as well as historiography and source studies. Therefore, the primary method employed was interdisciplinary. The relevance of the topic is undeniable, as cartographic sources, along with historical and archaeological ones, allow us to reconstruct the history of the formation of the Aral Sea-lake as a major body of water in Central Asia. This task is especially important given the need to study the causes of the Aral Sea's current regression. The aim of the article is to present the Aral Sea as a historical and geographical feature on medieval and modern maps created by European and Russian authors. These cartographic materials help study the dynamics of the gradual «outlining» of this large inland body of water. While early maps depict the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers flowing into the Caspian Sea, the image of the Aral Sea gradually emerges, initially only its eastern shore, and then its full contours. A careful study of ancient maps depicting the Central Asian region allows us to chart the evolution of the Aral Sea's geographic boundaries, shores, and bays. The study's findings, based on an analysis of medieval and modern maps, demonstrate the fluctuating nature of the Aral Sea's water level throughout history. Therefore, it can be assumed that the current regression is neither the first nor the last, and that the Aral Sea/lake may once again fill with water in the future.