The relevance of the chosen topic lies not only in identifying the main stages of the history of the formation of the ethnic map of the Eastern Caucasus, but also in the need for a proper understanding and coverage of the problems of the ethnic history of the peoples of the region, as well as for understanding many phenomena in modern national processes. The historical cartography of the region of the period under consideration is considered in the article on the basis of documentary materials and special scientific literature. The Eastern Caucasus, and indeed the Caucasus as a whole, is one of the major geographical regions of the country, the various peoples of which have, along with their originality, a deep commonality of historical destinies. It should be noted that the delineation of the borders of national-ethnic possessions at various times presents great difficulties. The article also summarizes data on natural and climatic conditions, territories, borders, lines of demarcation of the region, settlement, ethnic composition. At the same time, it is shown that natural and geographical conditions predetermined the division of the region into flat and mountainous zones. The study of the ethnic map of the Eastern Caucasus will allow us to take a fresh look at the problem of the development of national historical science in the context of regional, regional and local historiography. The relevance of the topic is also determined by the peculiarity of the studied region, since the Eastern Caucasus represents a special cultural and historical type, determined by the diversity of natural geographical conditions, geopolitical originality, multinational and multi-confessional composition of its population.

The relevance of the chosen topic lies not only in identifying the main stages of the history of the formation of the ethnic map of the Eastern Caucasus, but also in the need for a proper understanding and coverage of the problems of the ethnic history of the peoples of the region, as well as for understanding many phenomena in modern national processes. The historical cartography of the region of the period under consideration is considered in the article on the basis of documentary materials and special scientific literature. The Eastern Caucasus, and indeed the Caucasus as a whole, is one of the major geographical regions of the country, the various peoples of which have, along with their originality, a deep commonality of historical destinies. It should be noted that the delineation of the borders of national-ethnic possessions at various times presents great difficulties. The article also summarizes data on natural and climatic conditions, territories, borders, lines of demarcation of the region, settlement, ethnic composition. At the same time, it is shown that natural and geographical conditions predetermined the division of the region into flat and mountainous zones. The study of the ethnic map of the Eastern Caucasus will allow us to take a fresh look at the problem of the development of national historical science in the context of regional, regional and local historiography. The relevance of the topic is also determined by the peculiarity of the studied region, since the Eastern Caucasus represents a special cultural and historical type, determined by the diversity of natural geographical conditions, geopolitical originality, multinational and multi-confessional composition of its population.