Özet:

Maps and portolans are one of the technical works that have been used for transportation, scientific research, technical services and excursion since ancient times. Portolans were navigation maps, based on distances observed by navigators. These maps not only presented the geographical features, but also provided us information of the times about cities, people and culture. Portolans have cultural and artistic values and are one of the most important historical documents reflecting the military, political, social and economic characteristics of their ages. The Caspian Basin, located between the West and the East, is the largest lake or inner sea of the world. The Caspian Sea, which is bordered by Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran, is geopolitically and economically important because of its oil and gas reserves. Global and regional strategic importance of the Caspian Region increased day by day and maps began to prepare based on the interest of Western states to the Caspian Sea. The change of the Caspian Region is reflected in many historical maps over time. By these characteristics, Caspian Basin is also a subject for many historical maps. It was called the Hyrcanian Ocean or Mare Hircanum in antiquity period and other old names of The Caspian Sea were Bahr Mazanderan, Bahr-i Hazar, Gulzum Denghiz, Bahr Gilan and Kaspiskoye More. In this study, an attempt has been made to explain cities and features of maps of Caspian Sea in the historical period and perspective of the state from the eyes cartographers about this region.

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