Medieval maps discussed in Entangled Histories seminar

The thirteenth session of the “Entangled Histories: Borders and Cultural Encounters from the Medieval to the Contemporary Era” seminar series, organized in cooperation with Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication and Insubria University, has been held. Dr. Karen Pinto from the University of Colorado-Boulder was a guest at the online seminar. The event discussed how the Mediterranean was depicted in maps in the medieval Islamic world. 

The event was held online under the moderation of Asst. Prof. Maria Pia Ester Cristaldi from the Journalism Department of Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication.

Discussed how the Mediterranean was depicted through maps

In her presentation titled “From the Ground Up: Understanding the Islamicate Vision of the Thughūr al-Shāmiyya (Cilician Frontier with Syria) through KMMS Maps of the Mediterranean,” Pinto discussed how the Mediterranean was depicted through maps in the medieval Islamic world. 

Strategic border lines evaluated 

In the seminar, Mediterranean maps within the Kitāb al-Masālik wa-al-Mamālik (KMMS) manuscript tradition were specifically examined, and the place of the Thughūr al-Shāmiyya region, a strategic border line extending from northern Syria to Anatolia, in medieval cartography was evaluated. 

Medieval cartographers’ perceptions of space discussed

The presentation discussed medieval cartographers’ perceptions of space through the positions of historical settlements such as al-Maṣṣīṣa and ʿAyn Zarba on maps. Dr. Karen Pinto's extensive map archive and research in the field of Islamic cartography, where she has internationally significant works, were also mentioned. 

The event also emphasized that medieval maps were not only geographical information providers but also important visual tools reflecting the political and strategic imaginations of their era. The seminar took place with the participation of academics from various universities and postgraduate students. 

The highly anticipated seminar series will continue with public participation until the summer months.