Document Type : Research Paper

Author

• Saeed Sadeghian

Ph.D. Student of Photogrammetry, University of Tehran

Abstract

Tabari, in his important history book, refers to preparation of cadaster for whole lands of Iran during the reign of Kavad. It was so despite the fact that in those days Iran was a number of times vaster than its current area.
Estakhri, living in tenth century A.D., has in his book, Sovar-al-Aghalim, described lands, climates of earth, cities, seas, rivers and the distance between them in detail, and has displayed them on maps. These maps which amount to 19, are called Sovar.
Taghvim-al-Boldan, written by Abolfada’, is one of the books written during the Middle Ages and a reference book in those times, and it has been translated since mid-sixteenth century into a number of European languages. a chapter of this book is about research on “area” and other chapter is about the areas of seven climates composed in line with the attitude of older times. Abolfada’ criticizes a number of former students because they hadn’t mentioned any data concerning the length and width of cities.
Unfortunately, such activities did not continue in later times in an organize manner. Therefore, we must make double efforts to remove the shortages created by inaction.