The history of cartography of western border areas of Russia in eighteenth to early twentieth centuries (using the example of the Smolensk Province)

Abstract

The article describes the history of mapping of the Smolensk region in eighteenth to early twentieth centuries, based on archival materials as well as published sources on the history of cartography in Russia. The article distinguishes three main periods of mapping and identifies activities that characterize the development of scientific knowledge and the understanding of the surrounding nature. The article makes a note of the role of scientific institutions, government agencies and individual researchers in conducting geographic research on the western border areas of Russia. It presents unique cartographic works (a number of which were previously unknown) of different periods, reflecting the transformation of the territory over the course of its exploration and economic use.