scholarly journals “Hand Drawn Portolan of the Caspian Sea of 1519” by Vesconte Maggiolo: A Source of Historical Geography for the Caspian Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 768-790
Author(s):  
Yusup M. Idrisov ◽  
◽  
Ismail I. Khanmurzaev ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Fifteenth Century ◽  
Caspian Sea ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Caspian Region ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Military Campaigns ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Military ◽  
First Time

Research objectives: To conduct a detailed comparative analysis of the toponymic source known as “Hand Drawn Portolan of the Caspian Sea (1519)” by Vesconte Maggiolo, and ascertain the range and chronology of its sources. Research materials: At the turn of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, there were a few navigational maps – portolan charts – created in Italy which contained rather precise outlines of the coastline of the Caspian Sea. The present Portolan excels all earlier items in terms of precision of the depicted topographical realities of the region. The quality of the map we are examining was surpassed only in the seventeenth century after Peter I’s hydrographic expeditions. The high level of shoreline’s precision also strongly suggests that the map was based on authentic topographic input. Maggiolo’s map contains 136 geographical names. Results and novelty of the research: For the first time ever in domestic scholarship, we conducted a comparative historical analysis of the hand drawn portolan chart of the Caspian Sea. We also proved the correlation of some toponyms of the West Caspian region with the Timurid and local sources that covered the military campaigns of Amir Timur in the region. In our view, the “Hand Drawn Portolan Chart of the Caspian Sea (1519)” created by Vesconte Maggiolo is one of the most notable among similar works. It finds many common features with the portolan from the island of Lesina, but also contains some common elements with the Mallorca cartographic school and Fra Mauro, Egerton MS 73, and Egerton MS 2083. This research allows us to extend and systematize our understanding of Italian cartography in relation to the Caspian region. It also details or adds some facts about the presence of Europeans in this region during the Golden Horde era. Based on this topographic and toponymic analysis, we furthermore come to a conclusion that the portolan in question is derived from a protograph created in the first half of fifteenth century, reflecting the realities of the turn of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

X. Growing Tension and the Threat of War in the Southern Caspian Sea: The Unsettled Division Dispute and Regional Rivalry

2003 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 575-591
Author(s):  
Hooman Peimani
Keyword(s):  
Caspian Sea ◽  
The United States ◽  
Caspian Region ◽  
Legal Regime ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Military Conflict ◽  
American Military ◽  
Military Presence ◽  
Military Conflicts ◽  
Southern Caspian Sea

AbstractThe absence of an acceptable legal regime for the division of the Caspian Sea among its five littoral states has created grounds for conflicts, crises, and wars in the Caspian region, a situation worsened since 2001 when Iran, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan found each other on a collision course over the ownership of certain offshore oilfields. The region has since been heading towards militarization, while the persistence of conflicts over the Caspian Sea's division has prepared the ground for military conflicts. Fear of lagging behind in an arms and the manipulation of conflicts by the United States and Turkey have further encouraged militarization. Against this background, certain factors, including Turkey's efforts to deny Iran political and economic gains in the Caspian region, the growing American military presence in Eurasia, and the expanding American-Azeri military ties since 11 September 2001 will likely contribute to the creation of a suitable ground for a military conflict in the Caspian region.

scholarly journals OFFERINGS OF HUNNIC-TYPE ARTIFACTS IN STONE ENCLOSURES AT ALTYNKAZGAN, THE EASTERN CASPIAN REGION

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-78
Author(s):  
A. E. Astafyev ◽  
E. S. Bogdanov
Keyword(s):  
Caspian Sea ◽  
Historical Records ◽  
Caspian Region ◽  
North Caucasus ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Land Bridge ◽  
The Third ◽  
Area North ◽  
Sea Area ◽  
Mangyshlak Peninsula

In 2014–2015, nine enclosures built of stone slabs were excavated at Altynkazgan on the Mangyshlak Peninsula, Republic of Kazakhstan. Inside them, remains of offering ceremonies were found: vessels dug into the ground, altars made of limestone blocks, and pits for offerings. In one of these, we found a richly decorated bridle, in another, a belt set of inlaid golden plaques, and in the third, remains of a saddle (silver plates and other items). The entire assemblage has numerous parallels among the 5th and 6th century fi nds from the northern Black Sea area, North Caucasus, and the Volga basin. Ritual burial of a “golden” belt, a bridle, and a ceremonial saddle indicate an advanced cult that included offerings of prestigious belongings of a horseman. These rituals were introduced by Iranian-speaking nomads who had migrated to the eastern Caspian region during the Hunnic raids to Iran in the 5th century. At that time, owing to the regressive phase of the Caspian Sea, the semi-desert northern Caspian coast was connected with Mangyshlak by a land bridge. Our hypotheses are supported by both historical records and modern geomorphological studies of the Caspian Sea.

scholarly journals Restoration of the military self-administration in the Terek cossak army in spring of 1917

Kavkaz-forum ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 90-100
Author(s):  
Ф.С. Киреев
Keyword(s):  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Historical Event ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Political Situation ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Intellectual Potential ◽  
The Military ◽  
First Time

В статье анализируются причины возвращения войсковой системы самоуправления Терского казачества и показан сам процесс создания выборности войсковой власти. Актуальность исследования казачьего самоуправления обусловлена необходимостью теоретического обоснования и практического осуществления самоорганизации казачества России. Исторический анализ процесса организации самоуправления Терского казачества на войсковом уровне может послужить фундаментом для лучшего понимания и оценки современных процессов и явлений в казачьей среде и поможет выстраиванию государственной политики в отношении казачества в современной России. В отечественной историографии отсутствуют работы, посвященные конкретно восстановлению выборности власти в Терском казачьем войске. Поэтому научная новизна исследования определяется тем, что впервые предпринята попытка хронологической реконструкции истории создания войсковой системы самоуправления Терского казачества. Методологической основой исследования является принцип историзма, что предусматривает изучение момента возникновения исторического события и этапы его развития. Анализ событий на Тереке в 1917 г. показывает, что терские казаки смогли самоорганизоваться, создать полноценное административно-территориальное образование, и лишь изменение социально-политической ситуации в России в целомпомешало укрепить и продолжить это начинание. Еще необходимо отметить, что терские казаки к моменту восстановления войскового самоуправления подошли уже с готовыми проектами соответствующих документов, что позволило Терскому войску первым среди других войск создать свою выборную власть. Это говорит о высоком интеллектуальном потенциале в среде терских казаков. The article analyzes the reasons for the restoration of the military system of self-government of the Terek Cossacks and shows the very process of creating the elective military power. The relevance of the study of Cossack self-government is due to the need for theoretical justification and practical implementation of the self-organization of the Cossacks of Russia. Historical analysis of the process of organizing self-government of the Terek Cossacks at the military level can serve as a foundation for better understanding and assessment of modern processes and phenomena in the Cossack environment and will help to build state policy towards the Cossacks in modern Russia. In the Russian historiography, there are no works devoted specifically to the restoration of the election of power in the Terek Cossack army. Therefore, the scientific novelty of the research is determined by the fact that for the first time an attempt was made to chronologically reconstruct the history of the creation of the military system of self-government of the Terek Cossacks. The methodological basis of the research is the principle of historicism, with its focus on the study of the moment of occurrence of a historical event and the stages of its development. An analysis of the events on the Terek in 1917 shows that the Terek Cossacks were able to organize themselves and create a full-fledged administrative-territorial entity and only a change in the socio-political situation in Russia as a whole was placed, strengthened and continued this initiative. It should also be noted that the Terek Cossacks, by the time of the restoration of military self-government, came up with ready-made drafts of relevant documents, which allowed the Terek army to be the first among other troops to create their own elected power. This indicates a high intellectual potential among the Terek cossacks.

Commercial activity of the Russian shipping company “Caucasus and Mercury” in Persia in the context of public-private partnership in the second half of the 19th — early 20th centuries

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (04-1) ◽  
pp. 94-108
Author(s):  
Gadilya Kornoukhova ◽  
Marina Moseykina
Keyword(s):  
Caspian Sea ◽  
Caspian Region ◽  
Private Business ◽  
Russian Government ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Commercial Activity ◽  
Private Partnership ◽  
Shipping Company ◽  
Merchant Shipping ◽  
The Impact

The article analyzes the activities of the joint-stock shipping company «Caucasus and Mercury» in the Persian market, reveals its place in trade and economic operations in the Caspian region as a whole. The authors aim to find out the degree of effectiveness of public-private cooperation in the development of a separate transport company, «Caucasus and Mercury», as well as the nature of the impact of this partnership on the development of commercial shipping in the Caspian Sea. The authors analyzed the processes that took place in Russian government and private business circles in the field of merchant shipping in the Caspian Sea.

New Stage in the Geopolitical Struggle around the Caspian Sea after 1991

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-36
Author(s):  
Stanislav Aleksandrovich Pritchin
Keyword(s):  
Caspian Sea ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
Water Area ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Regional Powers ◽  
Complete Work ◽  
Strategic Goals ◽  
The Military

For almost three centuries, starting with the campaign of Peter the Great in 1721-1722, Russia has traditionally played a key role in the Caspian Sea. The situation changed dramatically with the collapse of the USSR in 1991 and the emergence of three new regional players-Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. For Russia, this meant a significant reduction in influence in the region and the loss of control over most of the water area and the sea and its resources. In the historiography devoted to the region, the emphasis is placed on assessing the new round of geopolitical struggle, the position and interests of Western and regional powers. The author of this article provides a critical analysis of changes in Russian policy towards the Caspian Sea over the past 30 years and assesses the effectiveness of these changes. The difficult transition from the role of a dominant player in a region closed to external competitors to an open geopolitical confrontation over resources, their transportation routes, and political influence at the first stage was not in favor of Russia. Russia could not defend the principle of a condominium for joint development of hydrocarbon resources of the sea. With the active assistance of Western competitors, Russia lost its status as a monopoly transit country for oil and gas from the region. At the same time, thanks to diplomatic efforts and increased political dialogue with its neighbors in the region, Russia managed to resolve all territorial issues at sea by 2003, maintain the closed status of the sea for the military forces of third countries, and by 2018 complete work on the Convention on the international legal status of the sea, which established the principles of cooperation in the region that are important for the Russian Federation. Thus, official Moscow managed to achieve the strategic goals adapted after the collapse of the USSR by using the traditional strengths of its foreign policy and consolidate its status as the most influential player in the region.

First Multistage Hydraulic Fracturing in Russian Offshore: Integrated Approach to Completion and Stimulation of Apt Deposits of V.Filanovsky Field

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhail Yurievich Golenkin ◽  
Denis Vladimirovich Eliseev ◽  
Alexander Anatolyevich Zemchikhin ◽  
Alexey Alexandrovich Borisenko ◽  
Akhmat Sakhadinovich Atabiyev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Caspian Sea ◽  
Complex Type ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Multistage Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Coiled Tubing ◽  
Sand Control ◽  
Friction Reducing ◽  
First Time ◽  
Stimulation Of

Abstract The paper describes the results of the first multistage hydraulic fracturing operations in Russia on the Caspian Sea shelf in the gas condensate and oil deposits of the Aptian formation of V. Filanovsky field. In addition to the small productive formation depth, long horizontal sections with a complex trajectory and high collapse gradients due to large zenith angles when passing the Albian and Aptian deposits of poorly consolidated sandstones are an additional challenge for choosing a multistage hydraulic fracturing assembly. The above features require the use of modern sand control screens with enhanced frac sleeves. A design was developed which includes frac sleeves and sand control screens that can withstand multiple cycles of hydraulic impact during hydraulic fracturing, as well as many opening/closing cycles. A seawater-based frac fluid system was applied. The frac fleet was located on a pontoon, the coiled tubing – on a platform. For the first time in Russia, a 2-5/8 inch coiled tubing with a complex-type friction reducing system was used to switch coupling/sleeves in conditions of very long horizontal sections, complex trajectories, and high friction coefficients. The minimum distances between the screen's sliding sleeves and frac sleeves did not prevent from performing manipulations in complex environment. For well cleaning, the frac assemblies of reverse rotary-pulse and rotary-directional types were used. At the first stage of the project, the development of an optimal method of well completion was successfully implemented. Due to the close interaction of the operating company, service company, and science & engineering team of the operator, for the first time in Russia the design of downhole equipment with the use of advanced technologies of sand control screens, frac sleeves was presented. This solution has proved its effectiveness – the downhole equipment has retained its operational properties after a long period of well operation and further in the process of hydraulic fracturing. At the second stage of the project, 32 MSHF operations were performed at four wells. To reduce nonproductive time and operational risks, a satellite communication complex was additionally deployed on the pontoon to join the engineering centers of Astrakhan, Moscow, and Houston. After finishing the well development, the design indicators for formation fluid rates were achieved, which proved the effectiveness of the stimulation of the field's target objects – this opens great prospects for further development of low-permeability reservoirs at offshore sites in the Caspian Sea. The successful project implementation and the achievement of the design values of oil flow rates has expanded the possibilities of commercial operation of the low-permeable Aptian formation, complicated by the presence of a gas cap and underlying water. A solution was presented for working in extended horizontal well sections with 2-5/8 inch coiled tubing together with a complex-type mechanical friction reducing system. The economic effect was achieved when solving tasks of manipulating mechanical screen couplings and frac port sleeves without the involvement of downhole tractors. The use of new solutions in the completion assembly made it possible to eliminate additional sand ingress problems.

scholarly journals Impact of the European Russia drought in 2010 on the Caspian Sea level

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Arpe ◽  
S. A. G. Leroy ◽  
H. Lahijani ◽  
V. Khan
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Caspian Sea ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
European Russia ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Volga River ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The hydrological budgets of the Volga basin (VB) and the Caspian Sea (CS) have been analysed. The components of the water balance for the CS were calculated for the period 1993 to 2010 with emphasis on summer 2010 when a severe drought developed over European Russia. A drop in precipitation over the VB in July 2010 occurs simultaneously with a decrease in evaporation for the same area, an increase of evaporation over the CS itself and a drop of the Caspian Sea level (CSL). The drop in the precipitation over the VB cannot lead to an instantaneous drop of the CSL because the precipitated water needs some months to reach the CS. The delay is estimated here to be 1 to 3 months for excessive precipitation in summer, longer for deficient precipitation and for winter cases. However, the evaporation over the CS itself is considered to be responsible for a simultaneous drop of the CSL from July to September 2010. The impact on the CSL from the precipitation deficit over the VB occurs in the months following the drought. The water deficit from July to September 2010 calculated from the anomalous precipitation minus evaporation over the VB would decrease the CSL by 22 cm, of which only 2 cm had been observed until the end of September (observed Volga River discharge anomaly). So the remaining drop of 20 cm can be expected in the months to follow if no other anomalies happen. In previous studies the precipitation over the VB has been identified as the main cause for CSL changes, but here from a 10 cm drop from beginning of July to end of September, 6 cm can be directly assigned to the enhanced evaporation over the CS itself and 2 cm due to reduced precipitation over the CS. Further periods with strong changes of the CSL are also investigated, which provide some estimates concerning the accuracy of the analysis data. The investigation was possible due to the new ECMWF interim reanalysis data which are used to provide data also for sensitive quantities like surface evaporation and precipitation. The comparison with independent data and the consistency between such data for calculating the water budget over the CS gives a high confidence in the quality of the data used. This investigation provides some scope for making forecasts of the CSL few months ahead to allow for mitigating societal impacts.

scholarly journals CORRELATION OF OIL AND GAS RESOURCES OF THE CASPIAN COUNTRIES

2021 ◽  
Vol 06 (02) ◽  
pp. 23-27
Author(s):  
Gulshan Zeynalova Gulshan Zeynalova
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Caspian Sea ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Energy Information Administration ◽  
Caspian Region ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Oil Reserves ◽  
Oil And Gas Resources

The Caspian Sea is the largest body of water in Eurasia: After the collapse of the USSR, the water area of this region is a zone of interest for many states. [1] The Caspian region rightfully serves as one of the most significant regions for most countries interested in the mineral resources that the Caspian is rich in. The Caspian Sea has a significant hydrocarbon reserves. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), hydrocarbon resources in the Caspian basin have the following values: oil - 48 billion barrels of oil, natural gas - 292 trillion. cubic feet (found and probable reserves), of which 75% and 67%, respectively, are produced or may be produced offshore. The northern part of the Caspian Sea contains most of the oil reserves, while the southern sector of the Caspian Sea is rich in natural gas.[2] It should be emphasized that the list of states that have the rights to use the resources of the Caspian Sea is as follows: Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan. It is impossible to correlate the importance of the oil and gas resources of the Caspian reservoir for each of the above countries, for the following reasons: Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are countries for which the hydrocarbon potential of the Caspian is the most important predictor of the formation and development of the economy, while for Kazakhstan, the use of oil and gas resources of the Caspian Sea plays an important , but not the most decisive role, since oil and gas deposits in this country are not limited to the Caspian region, but its economy is developing in other directions. Iran and Russia, however, are interested in influencing the direction of flows of oil and gas raw materials, including their transit through the territory of the countries. [3] The last years for the Caspian region have become the years of a shift in the development of the oil and gas industry of the Caspian "five", which account for 17.6% of oil reserves and 46.4% of gas reserves in terms of global reserves. It is assumed that on the territory of the Caspian shelf, which belongs to Russia, oil reserves amount to 270 million tons, natural gas reserves - 0.5 trillion cubic meters. m of gas. [4] Of course, it is worth noting that the potential of the Russian sector of the Caspian Sea is significantly lower than the oil and gas potential of Yamal or Western Siberia, but the development of this region is important for the strategic development of the oil and gas sector, in particular offshore drilling.

scholarly journals Economic Relations of the Caspian Sea Countries

2020 ◽  
pp. 145-156
Author(s):  
Orman Sultanli
Keyword(s):  
Caspian Sea ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Joint Production ◽  
Caspian Region ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Common Interests ◽  
The Creation

The article deals with the economic and political contradictions of the Caspian region. The first and most significant step towards building mutually beneficial cooperation between the five countries located on the Caspian sea coast was the signing of the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian sea of 12 August 2018 (the Convention), which defined the common interests of the countries in economic and security issues. This is only the beginning of a successful regional cooperation. Nevertheless, favorable conditions have already been created for the deepening of mutually beneficial economic cooperation and the development of new transit and transport infrastructure. Despite certain aspects of competition in the international hydrocarbon market, the countries of the Caspian region can form a joint production infrastructure based on joint concession megaprojects in order to ensure the export of petroleum products with a high share of added value. This aspect, as well as common interests in the field of security and preservation of the Caspian sea ecosystem, can become the Foundation for the creation of a new regional Association of countries. The article reveals the main issues that can be resolved through the implementation of joint mutually beneficial regional projects. In economic terms, the main obstacle is the competition of the countries of the region in the Chinese hydrocarbon market. Taking into account the capacity and potential of this market, the transition from the positions of competitors to the positions of joint supplies could be ensured by the creation of a single processing production interstate cluster.

CASPIAN GEOPOLITICAL SPACE IN THE REGIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-34
Author(s):  
K.A. MARKELOV ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Caspian Sea ◽  
New World ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Security System ◽  
Economic Order ◽  
Regional Security ◽  
Caspian Region ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
World Economic ◽  
World Economic Order

The article deals with the features of the current state and development of the Caspian geopolitical space, which is known as "Greater Caspian Region". The uniqueness of the natural complex is distinguished by the unity of the Caspian ecosystem, biological diversity, and inexhaustible recreational opportunities. The natural resource and capacities in transportation and communication links of the region represent the Great Caspian Sea as one of "the world's largest oil and gas hydrocarbon deposits" (Hoagland, 2019, p. 10-11). As a special geopolitical and economic space, the Caspian Sea is also united by a long shared history, culture and identity of the peoples who lived within the territory. (Romanova, 2012). "Greater Caspian Region" or "the Central Region of Eurasia", through which new models of international relations is constructed between the world leaders in this area, takes a new look at the Eurasian space and allows to describe the region through modern science paradigm considering the latest geopolitical developments and interdisciplinary research. Under the emergence of new world economic order, the Caspian Sea can be represented as an "island of interfacing worlds" - "East and West", as a geopolitical space that attracts the world's leading players and where a new multipolar world order that is based on the "rift" of the technological and world economic structures develops (Markelov, Golovina, 2020, p.16). This paper studies a set of basic aspects of a new approach to assessing the Caspian region, establishing its current geopolitical and geo-economic positions, as well as promising areas for strategic research and development. The object of this study is the geopolitical concept of the " Greater Caspian Region", the subject is the problems of: The Greater Caspian Sea; Eurasia; space; security; development strategy; geopolitics; the new world economic order. The objective of this research is to create an integrated analytical security system in the Caspian region that takes into account political and geographical factors, in their relation to economy, environment and information flows.

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