This course examines how historians can recreate, represent, and analyze the spaces of the past—and those who imagined, built, and inhabited them. We think critically about spatial history and the use of GIS and other digital historical approaches, exploring through our own hands-on work their potential to deepen our understanding of human history. The course culminates in the creation of a digital object, developed individually or in teams. These projects will progress through a series of milestones, accompanied by presentations on published objects and readings that investigate the challenges, limitations, and contributions of digital history and spatial representation.
Our concept of space is broad and crosses different scales. It includes spatial imaginaries and practices, from sacred geographies to trade networks and the organization of the home. The instructors are best equipped to offer detailed guidance on Japan, but projects may also focus on China or Korea, or take East Asia as a point of departure while extending beyond the region. The course includes introductory training in GIS software, but participates are welcome to design projects that use other technologies.
