Mapping the Physical and Political Geography of Greater Khorasan in the 3rd–4th Centuries AH (9th–10th Centuries CE) Using GIS

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 University of Tehran

2 Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.22059/jarcs.2026.411760.143407
Abstract
This study presents a spatial representation and cartographic reconstruction of the natural, human, and political geography of Greater Khorasan during the third and fourth centuries AH (ninth and tenth centuries CE) using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Drawing on historical-geographical information preserved in early Islamic geographical texts, it reconstructs a coherent map of Greater Khorasan, identifies its settlements, natural features, transportation network, and political boundaries, and demonstrates a framework for converting descriptive historical sources into geospatial data. Geographical works of the third and fourth centuries AH contain dispersed information on settlements, routes, administrative divisions, and natural features that can be systematically organized and spatially analyzed within a GIS environment. The research first defines the territorial extent and administrative divisions of Greater Khorasan based on historical-geographical sources and then produces a comprehensive map of its boundaries, settlements, transportation network, and natural features. Spatial and descriptive information extracted from major historical works—including Aḥsan al-Taqāsīm by al-Muqaddasī, the various Masālik al-Mamālik, and local chronicles—was organized into a geospatial database and processed in ArcGIS Pro. The resulting reconstruction demonstrates a high degree of consistency among geographical sources of the third and fourth centuries AH in describing settlements, communication routes, and regional boundaries, showing that these historical descriptions can be reliably correlated with the modern landscape. The reconstructed map provides an integrated representation of the spatial structure, historical boundaries, settlements, and natural landscape of Greater Khorasan during the early Islamic period. Beyond producing a historical map, the study illustrates how GIS-based cartographic methods facilitate the spatial interpretation of historical texts, improve the analysis of historical geography, and offer a practical framework for interdisciplinary research linking history, historical geography, archaeology, and digital cartography.

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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 24 August 2026

  • Receive Date 23 February 2026
  • Revise Date 23 August 2026
  • Accept Date 24 August 2026