Pre-modern Silesia and the problem of historical reconstruction maps

Our aim is to examine and discuss the attitudes towards the reconstruction maps of a historical territory. Using the example of Silesia, a historical region now divided between Poland and Czechia and historically fragmented into several principalities and other territories, we outline a history of territoriality within the framework of the political history of Silesia. This shows why it is problematic to map a politically inhomogeneous region. Then, a brief overview of the development of cartographic representation of Silesia from the 16th to the 18th century is introduced, followed by an excursion into historical cartography (i.e. reconstruction maps in the works of historians of Silesia). We argue that research on historical interstate regions faces the problem of obsolete methods behind many reconstruction maps. This includes, for example, the practice of republishing old reconstructions despite the availability of modern GIS methods and tools (including new media). Thus, we offer several theses and recommendations on how to produce reconstruction maps of historical regions for which modern GIS data may be lacking. We suggest how to deal with this challenging problem with careful attitudes that respect historical specificities.