WORLD HISTORY METHODS SEMINAR: DIGITAL METHODS FOR SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF THE PAST   [Archived Catalog]
2023-2024 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog
   

HIST 2736 - WORLD HISTORY METHODS SEMINAR: DIGITAL METHODS FOR SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF THE PAST


Minimum Credits: 3
Maximum Credits: 3
Over the past two to three decades, scholars in the humanities and social sciences have increasingly referred to a "spatial turn" of increasing attention to the place of geography and landscape in understanding society and culture. At the same time, historians have taken up the term spatial history to describe the ways in which they articulate geographical perspectives from their particular disciplinary approach. The reach of approachable desktop GIS and database design platforms, accessible satellite imagery, and online spatial visualization has amplified these trends. This seminar is an introduction to exemplary projects, applied methods, and techniques and tools for spatial analysis of the human past. At the same time, it is an effort to bring together several approaches that are not yet frequently joined. For instance, spatial history theory, method and exemplar are not well integrated, and we will approach the field from all three of these perspectives. Moreover, spatial history is seldom practiced at the global scale. World historians have not yet "put the world in world history." This class combines reading in theory and exemplars, interaction with online projects, and hands-on work with digital archives and tools. By the end of the class, students will understand the state of the art and possible future trajectories of spatial history as a field and its relationship with the field of world history. They will also be able to plan a spatial history project at the global scale, articulate its significance and scholarly contribution, and identify the sources, tools and expertise needed to complete it. Student work will include reading responses and archive and website assessments throughout the semester, and will culminate in a large-scale project prospectus.
Academic Career: Graduate
Course Component: Seminar
Grade Component: Grad LG/SNC Basis


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