Countries South of the Caucasus in Medieval Maps

Description

This cartographic study is dedicated to the geography of countries located south of the Caucasian range of mountains, as depicted on medieval maps. The third millennium has already witnessed the steady eastward expansion of the borders of the European Union, which now includes many Eastern European, as well as some of the ex-Soviet republics. Even Turkey, with over 97% of its territory firmly rooted in what is geographically known as ""Asia Minor"", has aspirations of becoming part of this Union. had it not been for some unresolved political issues, she might have already become a member state. Thus, the borders of the European Union are being pushed further to the east and the Union is sharing common borders with countries whose history and geography remains obscure even to the well-educated class of western Europeans. if, one day, Turkey succeeds in joining the Union, Europe, on its south-east, will share common borders with Syria, Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. The aim of the present work is to familiarize the reader with medieval historical cartography centering on the latter three of the above-mentioned countries: those situated south of the Caucasus range.