Historical Geography Research Articles

Teaching the basics of historical geography and geographic information systems at the Department of Historical Information Sciences (Faculty of History, Moscow State University)

The article describes the experience of teaching the course “Historical Geography and Geographic Information Systems” within the framework of the specialization “Historical Informatics” at the Department of Historical Informatic Science, Faculty of History, Moscow State University. We teach this discipline to third-year undergraduate students. The course includes several thematic blocks. The first one is devoted to Russian historical geography, and the main difficulty is to fit this voluminous course into several lessons and leave time for the remaining blocks. The second block is the basics of cartography, the history of cartography in Russia (that is, source studies of historical maps), and here we can also speak about electronic libraries of raster and vector historical maps of Russia. The third block is devoted to the substantive basics of spatial visualization. This block seems to be the most important: learning to use the proper software is an important, but it is the least constructive part of the research. It is more important to understand how to set tasks correctly and what complexities are typical to this type of visualization. Within this third block we examine both entertainment projects and research articles using historical maps. The last block of issues studied within the framework of the course is the basics of GIS software studying. We study QGIS here: it is officially freeware, cross-platform, it uses the wide-spread shapefile format, and it is well compatible with open Internet services, such as OpenStreetMap and the Google maps. Students learn to draw shapefiles upon raster maps, to attach data from spreadsheets to their vector maps and to create thematic maps, to transform the projections. We hope that our methodological experience will be useful to teachers.

ГЕОГРАФИЯ БЕЗ ГРАНИЦ: ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫЙ ПОРТАЛ И ЕГО ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ

The problems of studying and teaching geography, highlighted in the Concept of Geographical Education(2018), have not lost their relevance at present. The new federal standard of basic general education and the content ofthe school geography course, special attention to geographic information and modern ICT in work with schoolchildrenand university applicants have determined the significance of localizing regional geographic and local history informationin the online space to ensure common access and interaction opportunities for stakeholders in the field of geographic andenvironmental education.Digital educational content and digital educational resources are not innovative solutions in expanding the possibilities of presenting school disciplines, but they are rare in implementing the tasks of developing and improving theregional educational system. The goal of the Geography Without Borders project is to improve continuous environmentaland geographical education by expanding the interaction between universities, schools, and employers through the introduction of platform-based, digital, and network tools. At the first stage of implementation, the project is of a regionalnature, it is filled with regional geographic and local history information.The web portal is developed on Evolution CMS, a free open-source solution for site management; Bootstrap CSSframework, designed for adaptive web development, is applied. HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and MySQL have beenused in the creation and operation of the site. The structure of this portal includes resource blocks for schoolchildren(research projects, Olympiad movement, independent educational resources, etc.), for geography teachers, a block foremployers, an information block for parents, and a block for the Perm Regional Branch of the Russian GeographicalSociety. The portal structure does not remain static. When user requests change, the portal is also ready to change andadapt to changes in the external and internal environment.The implementation of the project Geography Without Borders will make it possible to solve problems of regionalgeographical and environmental education, and of regional studies

«В Историко-архивном институте историческая география еще не совсем исчезла»: письма О.М. Медушевской В.К. Яцунскому (1956—1966 гг.)

The publication includes the letters by O. M. Medushevskaya to V. K. Yatsunskiy written in 1956–1966. They are of interest to the study of the beginning of O. М. Medushevskaya’s research path, which is associated with historical geography and the history of geographical knowledge. The letters’ main themes are — the work of O. M. Medushevskaya at the Department of Auxiliary Historical Disciplines of the Moscow State Institute for History and Archives, preparation for publication of the lectures on the 17th—19th centuries maps, consultation of E. G. Istomina (Gelman) on the topic of the candidate dissertation (about the historical geography of the Novgorod province in the 18th century). These published sources are of particular interest for studying intergenerational communication between V. K. Yatsunskiy and O. M. Medushevskaya, the relationship between the teacher and the student. The letters were found in the personal fund of V. K. Yatsunskiy in the Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

СРЕДНЕВЕКОВЫЕ АРАБСКИЕ ГЕОГРАФИЧЕСКИЕ ТЕКСТЫ И КАРТЫ

Over the centuries, the interest of scholars in Arabic medieval sources on geography and geographical maps has been growing. This is connected with the important contribution of the Arab-Muslim civilization to the development of ideas about the inner and surrounding world, on the one hand, and the desire to restore or renew the history of various peoples involved in the zone of research interests of Arabic-speaking geographers, on the other hand. The authors of the article considered the sources stored in European repositories, available for study thanks to the descriptions and publications of Western orientalists, while discovering some trends manifested in the academic traditions of different stages of the development of historical geography. The interest of scientists of the 19th century was directed primarily to medieval texts, which were considered the primary and most important object for research, and the establishment of their authenticity was perceived as the main task of critical analysis of their content. As for maps, only in recent decades, did the historical and cultural context of this pictorial genre begin to be interpreted by scholars in all their fullness and functionality and published in the form of atlases, books, and encyclopedias, inviting readers to immerse themselves in a re-evaluated cultural tradition. The article aims to determine the features of different approaches to the interpretation of geographical Arabic-language sources in European oriental studies. For this purpose, critical editions of the sources undertaken in the projects of the Leiden and Bodleian libraries were studied and their characteristics were revealed through historical and comparative methods of analysis. The general dynamics in understanding historical geography from primarily philological textological work to cultural and interdisciplinary reevaluation of medieval Islamic maps is noted.

ЕКОЛОГО-ГЕОГРАФІЧНІ АСПЕКТИ ЗМІНИ ГІДРОХІМІЧНОГО СКЛАДУ ВОДИ РІЧКИ УСТЯ В МІСТІ РІВНЕ

Aim. The purpose of this study is the ecological-geographical analysis of the change in the hydrochemical composition of the river Ustya after it flows through the city of Rivne and the extent of anthropogenic transformation of the landscape mosaic of the coastal areas as a result of economic activity uncontrolled by various institutions and organizations by the population and enterprises of the city. The article was a continuation of a series of publications made together with students of the National Academy of Sciences, and is devoted to the study of the quality and composition of surface waters of the Rivne region as a result of the transformation of the components of the natural environment. Method. In the scientific work, the results of local research were analyzed in the performance of the assigned tasks, where general scientific and special methods were used: landscape ecology (geosystem), structural-functional and methods of standard processing of hydrological and hydrochemical information, hydrological calculations. In order to analyze the factors of transformation and formation of the quality of drinking water, the methods of statistical analysis, analogy, interpolation, zoning were used. The results. According to the results of the hydrochemical analysis based on the educational laboratory of the SSU "Rivne technical vocational college NUWM", the content of pollutants exceeds the normative values. For example, the iron content below the city of Rivne is 9.3 times higher than its content above the city. Sulfates in river water at a norm of 150 mg/l, above the city of Rivne - 260 mg/l, and below - 328 mg/l. It is also noted that river water is contaminated with ammonium nitrogen by a factor of 2. Water acidity exceeds the norm in the sample of Myrotyn village. In both samples, there is an excess of hardness and alkalinity indicators, which negatively affects the development of the ichthyofauna of the Ustya River. From the comparative analysis of river water, it is obvious that the content of polluting components is exceeded due to the crazy technogenic influence of the urban agglomeration. The scientific novelty consists of an ecological and geographical analysis of the influence of anthropogenic activities on the transformation of landscapes in the coastal zone of the Ustya River within the city of Rivne, the qualitative and quantitative composition and condition of representatives of flora and fauna, as well as the aquatic environment. The analysis was carried out as part of a research project to establish the ecological state of the Ustya River. Practical significance. The results of the research can be used in the educational process of SSU "Rivne technical professional college of NUWM", Volyn National University named after Lesya Ukrainka, National University of Water and Environmental Management, SSU "Kostopil construction and technological professional college of NUWM" and other educational institutions in teaching geographic, environmental, chemical, economic and local history disciplines. The results will find their application in the legislative and executive work of local self-government bodies when developing programs for socio-economic development of the territorial community of the city of Rivne. Research materials will contribute to the rational use of natural and anthropogenically transformed resources of the Rivne Region. A number of provisions can be used in similar studies of other regions of Ukraine.

Century of Laskarev's landmark contribution to Paratethys Science

Laskarev?s seminal contribution to the recognition and elucidation of the Paratethys Sea within geological discourse stands as one of the pivotal milestones in our understanding of Neogene European paleogeography. Although the Neogene marine deposits of central and southeastern Europe were known before him, he greatly facilitated discourse and communication about them by giving them a paleogeographical name. By officially introducing the term Paratethys and meticulously delineating its geographic extent and history, Laskarev unveiled profound insights into past climates, environments, and biotic evolution across Central and Eastern Europe. His work provided a solid foundation for subsequent investigations of the Paratethys region. Moreover, beyond its scientific intrigue, the Paratethys Sea holds considerable economic importance due to its rich geo logical endowment. This reservoir of resources includes hydrocarbon reserves, mineral deposits, and a burgeoning potential for geotourism. While substantial strides have been made in unraveling its mysteries, the Paratethys Sea still beckons further exploration, promising untapped realms of knowledge and economic opportunity.

Music of Panwang Festival ceremony in northern Guangdong Province China

The purpose of this research is to study The Historical Background of the Panwang Festival and its Ceremonial Music Characteristics in the Yao Region of Northern Guangdong Province, China.Use qualitative research processes along with field studies. Data were collected through interviews and literature researchThe history and current situation of the Yao ethnic group and their ancestor worship ceremony, the Panwang Festival, in Ruyuan County, northern Guangdong, China, are discussed, and the characteristics of the ceremonial music of the Panwang Festival are analysed.the research found were: 1) Geographical Characteristics and Ethnic History of the Yao Ethnic Area in Ruyuan County, Northern Guangdong Province. 2) History and content of the "Panwang Festival" rituals in the region. 3)Characteristics of musical instruments, songs and singing in the "Panwang Festival" ceremonies of the region. It reveals the geographical features, history and humanity of the Yao region in northern Guangdong as well as the unique musical style and cultural connotations of the Panwang Festival ritual music in the region. The aim is to better understand and pass on the Yao music culture, to excavate and reveal its cultural connotations and values, to promote cross-cultural exchanges and academic co-operation, and to contribute to the protection and development of Yao music culture.

Changes in the historical geography of Nakhchivan after the occupation of Azerbaijan by Russia (19th century)

Changes in the historical geography of Nakhchivan after the occupation of Azerbaijan by Russia (19th century)

The Historiography of Uzbek Khanates of the 18th – the 19th Centuries: Materials on the Historical Geography of Central Asia

This article examines historical works from the 18th to the 19th centuries, created in Mawarannahr in Chagatai and Persian languages and containing materials on the historical geography of Central Asia. The purpose of this study is to identify and introduce into scientific discourse the most valuable information on the historical geography of Central Asia contained in the historical works of local authors of the 18th – the 19th centuries. The identified factual material from written monuments of Uzbek khanates has shown that the considered narrative sources contain rich historical and geographical material on the states, appanage possessions, and vilayets of the region. The data of historical works allow us to trace administrative and territorial changes that took place in Central Asia. Historiographers of Bukhara, Khiva, and Kokand, while telling about feuds in the region, describing military campaigns of the supreme rulers of khanates, provide numerous data on vilayets, cities, villages, and fortresses, report on the construction of new fortresses, mention known and little-known roads, water resources of the region, used crossings and bridges. The authors of historical works of the 18th – the 19th centuries, when describing the events that took place in the region, included in their works unique information and facts that are absent in other chronicles but essential for a more comprehensive representation of the historical geography of the region of the past centuries. Nevertheless, much of the geographical information contained in the Khiva, Kokand and Bukhara works of the 18th – the 19th centuries are still insufficiently studied and remains to be thoroughly researched.

2023 Annual Review Historical Geography: Modern

2023 Annual Review Historical Geography: Modern

Cartographic materials for studying the historical geography of Northwest Russia

The historical process in the North-West Russia is characterized by complexity and versatility. Over the centuries, this region has witnessed a variety of historical events, changes in political and administrative boundaries, the founding of cities, the establishment of new communication routes, and the decline of old ones, alongside the growth of industry and trade. These changes were interconnected and mutually influential, highlighting the need for a comprehensive examination of all these phenomena. The spatial positioning of various geographical objects and phenomena is particularly significant, as it helps us understand why their interactions occurred in the ways they did. To grasp these spatial relationships, however, complex maps are necessary, ones that simultaneously depict different types of objects and phenomena. This article addresses the portrayal of North-West Russia's historical development on complex historical and geographical maps spanning from the 5th-6th centuries AD to the early 21st century. It includes a review of the sources used in creating the maps. The article also analyzes the challenges faced in mapping various types of objects and outlines solutions to these problems. Additionally, it presents a periodization of the historical process in the region, developed during the creation of the maps.

2023 Annual Review Historical Geography: Pre-modern

2023 Annual Review Historical Geography: Pre-modern

“The Path that Followed Civilization through the Centuries”: Friar Camillo de Monserrate and the Teaching of Ancient Geography at Colégio Pedro II (1850-1854)

RESUMO Criado no dia 2 de dezembro de 1837, o Imperial Colégio Pedro II foi a mais importante instituição de ensino secundário do Brasil oitocentista. A instituição formou parte da elite letrada imperial e o seu currículo expressava a proeminência de um projeto de invenção da identidade nacional pautado na noção de civilização e amparada pela ênfase no mundo antigo. Nesse sentido, este artigo tem como escopo o ensino de Geografia Antiga pensado pelo professor frei Camillo Monserrate na instituição entre 1850 e 1854. Para isso, mobilizo os programas das disciplinas e anotações produzidas pelo docente, com o intuito de compreender as finalidades atribuídas aos usos da Antiguidade no currículo do ensino secundário na edificação de um ideal de civilização e as inquietações acerca da construção do equilíbrio de conteúdos entre a Europa e a América.

지명과 행정구역 변화를 통해 본 지역의 역사지리적 변천

A historical geography on the region can be said to be an approach for regional research that integrates time and space, focusing on the current appearance of the region as well as the strata of older times. In this paper, I take a historical-geographical approach to the Cheongsong-gun region in Gyeongsangbuk-do by focusing on changes in ‘place name’ as a linguistic expression referring to an area divided by a certain boundary and in ‘administrative district’ as a representative spatial area that divides the region.
 First, the name ‘Cheongsong(靑松)’ can be found for the first time in the Annals of King Sejong. In 1423(5th year of King Sejong’s reign), the existing Cheongbo-gun(靑寶郡) and Songsaeng-hyeon(松生縣) were merged and ‘Cheongsong-gun(靑松郡)’ began to appear for the first time in Korean history. Naturally, our interests are bound to expand to Cheongbu-hyeon(靑鳧縣) and Jinbo-hyeon(眞寶縣) which are related to Cheongbo-gun, and Andeok-hyeon(安德 縣) which are related to Songsaeng-hyeon. Among these, in particular, Cheongbo-gun was elevated by integrating Jinbo-hyeon with Cheongbu-hyeon in 1418(the year of King Sejong’s accession to the throne), its name was changed to Cheongsong-gun through the separation of Jinbo-hyeon and incorporation of Songsaeng-hyeon in 1423, and Cheongsong-dohobu(靑松都護府) in 1459(the 5th year of King Sejo's reign). The promotion to Cheongbu-hyeon is deeply related to the locational specificity of Cheongbu-hyeon being the home of none other than King Sejong’s queen, Queen Soheon. From a current standpoint, it can be said to be a historical fact that requires attention in relation to the construction of place identity, securing historical and cultural contents, and storytelling in the Cheongsong region.
 Next, if we look at the process of integration and abolition of administrative districts and the transition of jurisdictions related to the name ‘Cheongsong’, we can easily understand how dynamically this region has changed. In other words, Cheongsong-gun in Gyeongsang-do, which first appeared in history in 1423, was centered around the middle part of the current Cheongsong-gun, with Jinbo-hyeon in the north and Andeok-hyeon in the southwest. At the time of the modern administrative district reorganization in 1895(the 32nd year of King Gojong’s reign), Cheongsong-gun in Andong-bu(安東府) was divided into two parts: Jinbo-gun in the north and Cheongsong-gun in the middle and southwest. Then, in 1914, Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, which was formed through merger and amalgamation by the Japanese Imperialism, incorporated the area corresponding to Jinbo-myeon and part of Pacheon-myeon in the northern part of the current Cheongsong-gun, forming its current form. In the future, regardless of the topic or object related to regional research, I hope that a historical-geographical approach to changes in ‘place names’ as geographical texts representing the region and ‘administrative districts’ as a spatial area that distinguishes regions can take precedence.

중국에서 문화지리학의 태동과 발전

Examining the emergence and development of cultural geography in China, this study aims to identify major researchers and research trends by generation and to identify major research bases and characteristics by region as well. For these purposes, we tracked the master-apprentice relationship of scholars who published cultural geographical studies in major geographical journals in China. According to the generation classification, scholars could be divided into five generations in this study. Geographical study of culture started in the Huadong region centered on Nanjing University was found to be divided into two bases: Beijing and Guangzhou. Although it is nearly 100 years since geographical study of culture emerged in China, cultural geography was firstly introduced to universities as a course by the third generation scholars in the mid-1980s, shortly after the Chinese economic reform. Leading the research from the late 1990s to the late 2010s, the fourth generation had contributed to the transition from ‘historical and cultural geography’ that inherited from earlier generations to ‘social and cultural geography’. The fifth generation, who began academic activities in the 2010s, has switched to ‘social and cultural geography.’ We argue that ‘institutional sustainability’ and ‘critical mind on issues in China’ are the tasks of Chinese cultural geography.

『해동역사』의 비어인식 연구

In the Chosun dynasty, the academic logic that Japan should be viewed from an objective point of view has begun to emerge from the previous notion of emotional and enemy. The reason for this change was that the Chosun scholars were able to rediscover Japan by reading the visiting records of Korean diplomats. Diplomats visiting Japan were allowed to give their friends the records they wrote while visiting Japan.
 As a result, the change in the perception of diplomats about Japan could be conveyed to the contemporary scholars of the Chosun dynasty. Meanwhile, in the early 19th century, with the introduction of Western, there was a heightened sense of spirit for the invasion of external forces in society as a whole. As a result, a sense of crisis over Japan's re-invasion increased and awareness of national defense was strengthened.
 In the process of revising and supplementing Han Chi-yoon’s 『 HadongYuksa』, this background of the times played a role, and it was expressed as a 「Bonzobeigo」 item in 「Ilbonko」 and the aspect of national defense was further strengthened.
 This change is related to the rise of foreign scholars in Japan, creating a national academic climate, and as a result, calls to change Japan’ region where diplomats go, which has led to a general heightened sense of external crisis in the Chosun.
 In 『HadongYuksa』, it was urged to defend the gateway and the sea through the explanation of the change of the northern tribe and the sea route, and emphasized the preparation of the defense measures for the territorial defense.
 The Defense perception In 『HadongYuksa』 is largely due to the heightened interest in the historical geography of Korea and territorial consciousness, which is in line with the silhak scholars who were one of the central tasks of establishing the status of their own country and grasping their own history.

He article examines the historical and geographical appearance of the Irtysh River in the Middle Ages and modern times. The Irtysh River is one of the most important rivers in Eurasia. This river had a special role both in the Middle Ages and in modern times. It is unique even now. The river originates in China, most of it passes

The article examines the historical and geographical appearance of the Irtysh River in the Middle Ages and modern times. The Irtysh River is one of the most important rivers in Eurasia. This river had a special role both in the Middle Ages and in modern times. It is unique even now. The river originates in China, most of it passes through Kazakhstan and flows into the Ob River in Russia. The Ob, in turn, flows into the Arctic Ocean. The Irtysh River is often mentioned in Arab-Persian sources in connection with various military-political and economic conditions in the Eurasian space. In addition, the sources provide information about the flora and fauna of the river, its natural resources and widespread economic use. The scientific heritage of Academician V.V. Bartold contains important and interesting information about the Irtysh River, which played an important role in the economy and history of the countries of Central Asia, and the entire continent of Eurasia. The scientific heritage of Academician V.V. Bartold, based on Arab-Persian sources, shows that the Irtysh River occupied an important place in the Eurasian space. In this regard, this article makes an attempt to collect and summarize this information, thereby forming the historical and geographical appearance of the Irtysh River.

A Study on the Similarities and Differences in Decorative Features of Ancient Residential Buildings in Jinzhong: A Case Study of Gable’s head Decorations in Xiaozhai Village

Research on Ancient Residential Buildings in Shanxi Province usually divides Shanxi into five regions based on historical geography, agricultural zoning, and folk dialects: Jinzhong, Jinbei, Jinnan, Jindongnan, and Jinxibei. Within the Jinzhong region, different areas and historical backgrounds have unified common features in ancient residential architecture, yet each also possesses distinct characteristics. Local standards for architectural details exist, serving as indicators for determining the attributes of residential buildings. This paper aims to analyze and compare architectural decorations in the Jinzhong region, focusing on the decorative components of the Gable’s head, and study the variations in the characteristics of ancient residential buildings within the same region.

Migration, racial capitalism, and Indigenous women: Re-Reading the gendered and racialized histories of U.S./Mexican migration

ABSTRACT Studies of Mexican migration to the United States posit that from the 1940s to the 1970s rural men were migrant protagonists while women stayed home. If women migrated, they relied upon men’s established networks. However, archival and ethnographic research with Indigenous Zapotec women from the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, disrupts this narrative and demonstrates how women – instead of men – pioneered migrant networks. Originally employed in domestic service in Mexico City, Zapotec women leveraged work relationships to find opportunities in the United States. Subsequently, they helped other women to migrate. Studies have never documented these women-led migrant networks. Drawing on the analytic of racial capitalism, this article argues that Indigenous women’s migration was not an anomaly, but rather a key aspect of the gendered and racialized logics of accumulation that subsidised economic growth in Mexico during the ‘Mexican Miracle’ (1940s to the 1970s). Accordingly, while Zapotec women found opportunity in international migration, they were rendered surplus through a similar racialized logic that devalued their reproductive labour on both sides of the border. This article contributes to studies of U.S./Mexican migration by centreing the historical geographies of racialized accumulation logics when exploring how Indigenous Mexicans have moved to the United States.

Material for Historic Geography of Enguri Valley

Material for Historic Geography of Enguri Valley