GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES IN HAJI ZEYNALABDIN SHIRVANI’S WORK “RIYAZ AL-SIYAHAT”

Abstract

The article analyzes the scholar, traveler, poet, and head of the Nematullahi order, Haji Zeyna-labdin Shirvani, originally from Shamakhi, who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and the geographic coordinates in his first work "Riyaz es-siyahat". To understand the topic better, the article first provides a brief information about the author. Then it’s presented information about the work "Riyaz al-Siyahat", which was called "a rich and useful treasure" by Abbasgulu Agha Bakikhanov and "the best and most complete source" by B.A. Dorn and "a geographical work, rich in historical and bibliographical notes" by Charles Rieu.
“Riyaz al-siyahat”, written by Haji Zeynalabdin Shirvani based on his travels over forty years across the Mediterranean coast of Africa, Arabia, Oman, Yemen, Turkey, India, present-day Pakistan, Central Asia, and other regions, provides detailed information on the history, geography, population, traditions and customs, and cultural-historical monuments of these areas. Shirvani also had conversations with numerous contemporary rulers, viziers, prominent religious figures and mer-chants and he included these dialogues in his work. Additionally, he presented interesting infor-mation about the places he himself had not traveled to.
Next, before explaining the geographic coordinates reflecting the content of the article, it’s supplied information about the Abjad system, in which these coordinates were described. It’is ex-plained the essence of the Abjad system with examples. After that, it’is given a brief general review of geographic coordinates, and then it’s dealed the geographic coordinates mentioned in the work and the methods of determination of these coordinates using the Abjad system.