Redrawing a map of Alexander the Great’s empire. Correcting old historical geographical errors

Abstract

The general maps of Alexander the Great’s empire published today often contain numerous variants and contradictions. The aim of this study is to present a new version of the general map, based on the hypotheses of commentators on Arrian and Curtius, as well as on a series of field explorations, rearticulating and car tographically representing the authors’ ongoing research on this topic. This general map also includes a new representation of Central Asia, intended to correct the contradictory schemes that have been published until recently. This map therefore includes updated toponymy and details of the routes followed by Alexander, his generals and ambassadors, Darius, and, to the East, the Bactrian -Sogdian satraps and regional governors. The reconstruction of this map has significant implications for our understanding of Alexander’s story.

Keywords

• alexander the great
• alexander the great’s empire
• achaemenid empire
• darius iii
• hellenistic toponymy
• hellenistic geography
• mapping of ancient geography