A key fact recognized on European maps is presented in the exposition of a mega project in Uzbekistan

 

European maps created in the 17^th- 18^th centuries began to depict Central Asia not as a vague territory, but as a region hosting clearly defined scientific and trade centers such as Bukhara, Samarkand, and Khiva. Through these maps, one can see today at the exposition of the Islamic Civilization Center how European scholarship understood Uzbekistan.

 

The regular appearance of cities such as Bukhara, Samarkand, and Khiva on European maps indicates that the political, commercial, and cultural significance of this region was highly valued.

 

World Map, or Representation of the Globe, compiled based on new observations. Jean-Baptiste Louis Clouet (ca. 1730-1790). Paris, 1787. 65 × 42 cm

 

On the world map created at the end of the 18th century by the European cartographer Jean-Baptiste Louis Clouet, the globe is divided into the Western and Eastern Hemispheres, with Central Asia presented under the name “Grande Tartarie.” This generalizing term reflects how the European scholarly community perceived the region as a unified geographical space. At the same time, the precise marking of cities such as Bukhara, Samarkand, and Khiva shows that the territory of present-day Uzbekistan stood out distinctly even within broader geographic generalizations. The globes, astronomical instruments, and symbolic sculptures decorating the map’s borders express the harmony of science and art.

 

General Description of the Globe (Square World Map). Antonio Zatta (1757-1797). Venice, 1774. 29 × 42 cm.

 

The map titled “General Description of the Globe,” published in Venice in 1774 by Antonio Zatta, holds particular significance in European cartography as a scientific experiment. The square projection was intended to provide more precise calculations of latitude and longitude, demonstrating an increased level of accuracy compared to Clouet’s map. The term “Tartarie” is still retained, while cities associated with the territory of Uzbekistan are depicted more clearly and systematically.

 

Historical Map. Map of Asia. Guillaume Delisle (1675-1726). Paris, 1805. 61.8 × 65.2 cm

 

The map of Asia by Guillaume Delisle one of the authors of the most scientifically grounded and accurate maps of the 17th century represents a high stage in the development of scientific cartography in Europe. By combining Arabic geographical heritage with data from European expeditions, he portrayed the complex geography of Central Asia with relative precision. Although “Grande Tartarie” occupies a central place on the map, the distinct marking of cities such as Bukhara, Samarkand, and Khiva indicates that Uzbekistan was a key hub of trade routes, particularly within the system of the Great Silk Road.

 

Great Tartary and Its Division into Main Parts. Giovanni Giacomo de Rossi (1627-1691). Rome, 1683. 44 × 55 cm

 

On the “Great Tartary” map compiled at the end of the 17th century by Giovanni Giacomo de Rossi, Central Asia is shown divided into several parts. Names such as “Tartaria Moscovitica,” “Tartaria Chinensis,” and “Tartaria Indépendante” demonstrate European cartographers’ attempts to differentiate the region from a political perspective. Cities located in the territory of present-day Uzbekistan are once again shown as permanent geographical reference points.

 

Historical Map. Description of Tartary. Nicolas Sanson (1600-1667). Paris, 1654. 35.7 × 57 cm

 

In the maps compiled by Nicolas Sanson, Central Asia and Uzbekistan are presented in a more generalized form under the name “Tartarie.” Nevertheless, the inclusion of key geographical features such as the Caspian Sea, the Aral Sea, the Amu Darya, and the Syr Darya shows that knowledge about the region was gradually becoming more precise. The separate depiction of Bukhara and Samarkand once again confirms their prestige as scientific and political centers.

 

Historical Map. Asia. Eastern States. Johann Baptist Homann (1664-1724). Nuremberg, 1710-1720. 49 × 57 cm

 

By the 18th century, the maps of Johann Baptist Homann and Nicolas de Fer present the territory of Uzbekistan not only as a geographical space, but also as a geopolitically significant region. These maps distinguish territories through color and clearly indicate cities and trade routes. In de Fer’s map, the strategic importance of Central Asia is especially evident against the backdrop of the eastward expansion of the Russian Empire.

 

Historical Map. The Caspian Sea and the Uzbek Land. Abraham Maas (1641-1729). Nuremberg, 1735. 48 × 60 cm

 

The map titled “The Caspian Sea and the Uzbek Land,” published in Nuremberg in 1735 by Abraham Maas, is particularly notable in European cartography for its explicit and independent use of the name “Uzbekistan.” Under the designation “Usbeck,” the oases of Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Fergana, and Turkestan are depicted as a single, unified territory. This indicates that by the 18th century, European scholarship had begun to perceive Uzbekistan as an independent and clearly defined geographical and political space.

 

“European historical maps from the 17th–18th centuries portray the cities of our land as scientific, commercial, and strategic centers of Central Asia. Comparisons among these maps clearly demonstrate the development of geographical knowledge and the transition in European scholars’ perceptions of the region from generalized concepts to precise scientific views. These maps are valuable sources not only for the history of geography, but also for understanding Uzbekistan’s place in world civilization,” said Ravshan Khudayberganov, senior research fellow of the Center.

 

All of the maps mentioned above can be seen in the Second Renaissance period exposition of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan.

 

Durdona Rasulova

P.S. The article may be republished with a link to the Center’s official website.