The attempt to periodize the toponymic system of Artsakh is aimed at identifying historical and linguistic toponyms – realities and regularities of development of their system based on the analysis of historical and linguistic facts. Periodization is carried out on the basis of three principles: 1. The principle of the history of the toponymic system is the history of all its separate stages. 2. The principle of impossibility of absolute periodization. 3. The principle of the direct connection between the emergence of toponyms and their change in parallel with the history of the nation.

Keywordstoponymy of Artsakh historical periodization elements of substrate linguistic impact renaming influence of historical and political processes.