The Treatise “Descriptio Moldaviae” by Prince Dmitry Cantemir: the Experience of Scientific Design and Presentation of Geographical Space during the Early Enlightenment

Abstract. The article examines the problem of dissemination and formation of scientific knowledge and ideas characteristic of the Enlightenment in Russian culture at the beginning of the 18th century, using the treatise by Dimitry Cantemir “Description of Moldova” as an example. This treatise was written on the basis of new scientific ideas and methods, reflecting the latest achievements of European thought. “Description of Moldova” is encyclopedic in nature a nd contains a large number of new facts collected and structured by the author in all major spheres of the country’s life. An important feature of the treatise is the great attention paid to the detailed geographical map of Moldova created by the author. The presented factual material is accompanied by analysis and identification of cause-and-effect and internal relationships between different spheres of the country’s life. In the “Description of Moldova” we clearly see the mechanisms for applying new scientific methods for describing the region, developed by Dimitrie Cantemir based on the synthesis of theoretical principles and ideas of the European Enlightenment with the traditional Orthodox worldview.

Keywords: Dimitrie Cantemir, Enlightenment in Russia, «Description of Moldova», Peter the Great era, history of Moldova, science in the 18th century, historical and geographical treatise.