HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE MONGOL EMPIRE IN THE MEDIEVAL ENCYCLOPEDIA SHIHAB AD-DIN AL-OMARI

Abstract

The article describes the work of the Arab scientist, geographer, historian, encyclopedist Shihab al-Din Ahmed ibn Yahya ibn Fadlallah al-Omari al-Dimashkhi who lived in Damascus in 1301-1349. He worked as the secretary of the Egyptian sultan, which, according to medieval customs, passed to him from his father. Shihab al-Din al-Omari is the author of the geographical and historical encyclopedia «Masalik al-Absar fi mamalik al-Amsar» («Ways of looking at states with large cities»), which consists of 2 parts and 32 volumes. (Nysanbaev, 1998: 50) The encyclopedia contains very valuable information about the Great Mongol State, the Golden Horde State, the Chagatai Ulus, the Ilkhanate, that is, it gives information about the territories occupied by the Mongol Empire in the light of historical events. His descriptions are based on the stories of eyewitnesses, or those who have been in distant countries for a long time. Because he had direct access to archives and a wide range of contacts with medieval officials. In addition, the author had a good idea of the works of his contemporaries, but used them very little. All this gives his work a businesslike character.