Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine how Central Asia is represented within Islamic, Chinese, European, and Russian cartographic traditions based on historical maps from the 9th to the 19th centuries. Using content and semiotic analysis, projection systems, visual techniques, and symbolic codes were reconstructed across 32 authentic maps, leading to the development of a three-level interpretive model (technique → meaning → perception). The findings demonstrate that Islamic cartography conceptualized the region as a sacred center, Chinese maps depicted it as an administrative periphery, European cartography framed it as an object of rational measurement, and Russian maps portrayed it as a space of scientific exploration and imperial control. The study shows that historical maps function not only as geographic representations but also as cultural interpretations of space; these insights hold practical value for developing cartographic thinking, spatial identity, and educational practices in the Republic of Kazakhstan.