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1/8 Although chronicles+geographic texts mention all kinds of maps that had been created before the 10th c. (strategic maps to besiege cities, maps showing constallations and even magic maps for controlling tributaries), none of them have survived - so no pictures for those 
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2/8 ENTER: al-Istakhrī with the first maps in the Arabic "Book of Routes and Realms" (10th c., earliest dated manuscripts: 12th c.): 21 maps, starting with the world map. Let's take a look at it in a Persian copy (18th c.) held at @laBnF, available here: https://bit.ly/32sPecW
3/8 Oriented south, the map shows the Encircling Ocean surrounding the world & the Persian Sea + the Meditarranean stretching into the landmass. The earth contains cubicles naming realms and regions (e.g. Fars in Iran) as well as rivers and seas.
4/8 Do you see highlighted regions, dragons or any symbols?
4,5/8 Those who clicked "yes", what looks highlighted or symbolic to you?
5/8 No symbols this is actually al-Istakhrī's signature style! By contrast, look at the European #EbstorfWorldmap (ca. 13th c.) bursting with salvation history & mythical figures (details here: https://bit.ly/3bWhJ64 & https://bit.ly/33q9CLf )
6/8 al-Istakhri's world map did not tell stories, promote a ruler or champion Islam. He focused on orientation to inform the viewer where to find regions & realms - no background in Biblical and mythical narratives needed to decipher the map ("only" Arabic). #cartography
7/8 What about his regional maps? Here's the Mediterranean, in a 14th c. Persian copy held at @britishlibrary ( https://bit.ly/35zggS0 ). Only circles/polygons for cities and triangles for mountains are new - that's it & the 20 regional maps share this design! #cartography
8/8 His text+maps helped grasp the vast Islamicate realm, especially the positions of regions and cities. Here's the region farthest east along the Persian Sea: Sindh (in the copy from @ubleiden ( https://bit.ly/33t2HB6 ) #maphistory #Twitteristorian #twitterstorians nd
