The earliest known version of the idiosyncratic cartography was composed by al-Istakhri circa 950 CE, although only copies by later artists survive. As he was a follower of Abu Zayd al-Balkhi, this style of map-making is often referred to as the "Balkhī school", or the "Classical School".
The earliest known form of this unique cartographic style originated with al-Istakhri in approximately 950 CE. However, only copies made by later artists remain from his original work. This particular mapmaking technique is often referred to as the "Balkhī school" or the "Classical School".