HistoAtlas is a free collection of historic geographic information of the human culture all over the world. This is achieved as a time enabled geographic information system (

GIS A geographic information system (GIS) is a type of database containing Geographic data and information, geographic data (that is, descriptions of phenomena for which location is relevant), combined with Geographic information system software, sof ...

) on the web. All information can be used and edited freely and is intended to be a resource for

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...

archaeologists Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...

historians A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the stu ...

and others.

Introduction

HistoAtlas provides a system to actively maintain historical information derived from historical records and check if it is consistent. It is not meant for the discovery of new historical

facts A flexible alternating current transmission system (FACTS) is a system composed of static equipment used for the alternating current (AC) transmission of electrical energy. It is meant to enhance controllability and increase power transfer capabi ...

but to put everything together so it can be presented as one whole story. It is an open project making sure everyone benefits from it. Anyone can use the information and collaborate on the project. Its main audience is the general public but it should also contain enough historical details that historians should be able to enjoy it. HistoAtlas is not only able to visualize the changes in extent of different

countries A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state (polity), state, nation, or other polity, political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, so ...

, but also the events that caused this change altogether, because these things are historically more important than just the change of a border. The atlas has information about different aspects of

history History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...

. A few examples. * Political boundaries based on antique historical records or archeological research. *

Historical events History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

like wars, disasters, discoveries, treaties and journeys that shaped the course of time. * Facts about historical figures and their families that played an important role in history. * The evolution of cultural aspects like

languages Language is a structured system of communication. The structure of a language is its grammar and the free components are its vocabulary. Languages are the primary means by which humans communicate, and may be conveyed through a variety of met ...

and

religions Religion is usually defined as a social-cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, tran ...

Strategy

HistoAtlas aims to be a free, multilingual historical encyclopedia, intended as the most precise open content global historical reference. In concept there are some similarities to what online encyclopedia like

Wikipedia Wikipedia is a multilingual free online encyclopedia written and maintained by a community of volunteers, known as Wikipedians, through open collaboration and using a wiki-based editing system. Wikipedia is the largest and most-read refer ...

are doing, with differences on how data is stored, presented and used. It is a history oriented geographic information system. Information is structured more transparently{{Elucidate, date=September 2016 so it can be searched more efficiently and presented in different ways. Wikipedia and other encyclopedia are focused on articles and are not able to create maps efficiently because they are not meant to do this. But like

the information and application will be made available under an

open license A free license or open license is a license which allows others to reuse another creator’s work as they wish. Without a special license, these uses are normally prohibited by copyright, patent or commercial license. Most free licenses are ...

, meaning it will be maintained by volunteers who want to share their knowledge.

Consistency

The vision that HistoAtlas wants to put forward is the one of a collaborative system. Scientists require that the information is correct. Making sure that data is correct will be a high priority of the system. For now only a basic system has been put in place, but this will be extended in the future.

Licensing

Everything developed for the project is licensed under an open license. It can be used and improved by anyone. All data published under the project is put under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

References

HistoAtlas official website
*

Ian N. Gregory Ian or Iain is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, derived from the Hebrew given name (Yohanan, ') and corresponding to the English name John (given name), John. The spelling Ian is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic forename ''Iain''. It is a ...

''A place in History''
A short introduction to HGIS by the lead developers of GBHGIS ISSN 1463-5194 Online encyclopedias Wikis about geography Geographic information systems Historical geographic information systems History websites History maps Atlases Maps Belgian online encyclopedias Map websites

Introduction

Strategy

Consistency

Licensing

See also

References