Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RELEVEN (Re-evaluating the Eleventh Century through Linked Events and Entities)
Reporting period: 2022-12-01 to 2024-05-31
The aim of RELEVEN is to cast a clearer light on the events of the "short eleventh century" (c. 1030–1095) and specifically to get a better understanding of the ways in which the Christian world was perceived by its inhabitants at the time, particularly in the eastern half of Christendom but also to the north, where the faith had rapidly been expanding. The key to achieving this is to find a way to link and connect large amounts of disparate sorts of data. We aim to find a model for expressing data about the eleventh century that allows us to incorporate and model different, and even conflicting, perspectives about what the data tell us. The work of the RELEVEN project is divided into three strands: these are "People and movement", "Place and space", and "Textual culture". Within each strand we seek to explore the relevant sources in order to get a picture of the multiple, and quite often conflicting, ways that the Christians of the period understood their societies and the space they lived in.
Understanding the events of the “short eleventh century” is vital for gaining insights into how people in the Christian world perceived their societies, especially in eastern Christendom and expanding northern regions. In some of these regions, such as the Caucasus and Ukrain, the history is contested even today, with the conflicting traditions used in political debate and even justification for warfare. The RELEVEN project recognizes the limitations of a one-size-fits-all historical narrative; indeed, the novel aspect of this methodology is that it takes to its logical conclusion something that historians all readily acknowledge and that is especially apparent for pre-modern history: that there are very few, if any, simple and undisputed facts. By developing new methods of creating and using digital data, we can draw on emerging multidisciplinary data and utilize a wide array of available resources to trace the authority of information regarding the Christian world in the eleventh century. The goal is to provide people today, including but not limited to historians, with more accurate and detailed picture of history, considering different viewpoints and creating a richer narrative.
The overall objectives of the project are to develop and implement the STAR Model (Structured Assertion Record) for structured collection and representation of 11th century data; to investigate various historical sources within the thematic strands “People and Movement”, “Place and Space” and “Textual Culture” to gain a better understanding of the era; to establish a data repository for storing and accessing project findings; and to create an online analysis tool for interactive exploration of eleventh century data, enhancing public engagement and understanding.
Understanding the events of the “short eleventh century” is vital for gaining insights into how people in the Christian world perceived their societies, especially in eastern Christendom and expanding northern regions. In some of these regions, such as the Caucasus and Ukrain, the history is contested even today, with the conflicting traditions used in political debate and even justification for warfare. The RELEVEN project recognizes the limitations of a one-size-fits-all historical narrative; indeed, the novel aspect of this methodology is that it takes to its logical conclusion something that historians all readily acknowledge and that is especially apparent for pre-modern history: that there are very few, if any, simple and undisputed facts. By developing new methods of creating and using digital data, we can draw on emerging multidisciplinary data and utilize a wide array of available resources to trace the authority of information regarding the Christian world in the eleventh century. The goal is to provide people today, including but not limited to historians, with more accurate and detailed picture of history, considering different viewpoints and creating a richer narrative.
The overall objectives of the project are to develop and implement the STAR Model (Structured Assertion Record) for structured collection and representation of 11th century data; to investigate various historical sources within the thematic strands “People and Movement”, “Place and Space” and “Textual Culture” to gain a better understanding of the era; to establish a data repository for storing and accessing project findings; and to create an online analysis tool for interactive exploration of eleventh century data, enhancing public engagement and understanding.
The project has made significant strides in data extraction, correction, and enrichment, in all thematic strands. The team's efforts have not only contributed to the expansion of historical databases but have also been disseminated through impactful presentations and contributions to key academic discussions.
First Phase Results (months 1-17):
- Successful formation of a specialized team led by the Principal Investigator (PI).
- Establishment of four thematic strands: "Data Modeling," "People and Movement," "Place and Space," and "Text Transmission."
- Systematic extraction, correction, and adjustment of "person" data from diverse sources.
- Review and expansion of the database through the analysis of death and movement/location records from eleventh-century Byzantine and Central European sources.
- Translation of eleventh-century Armenian manuscripts colophons into English and incorporation into the database.
- Collection of over 200 documents from eleventh-century Italy, for further transcription and analysis.
Second Phase Results (months 18-30):
- Advanced the "People and Movement" strand by integrating further Armenian, Byzantine, and Germanic sources.
- Information extraction regarding people, locations and space from the first half of the collected Italian manuscripts.
- Brainstorming sessions to clarify offices, titles, and dignities in the aggregated dataset.
- Requirements outlined for modeling "Place and Space" data in the RELEVEN database, emphasizing physical and lived/social spaces.
- Collection of manuscript sources, transcription of certain of these into TEI-XML, and exploration of archaeological evidence.
First Phase Results (months 1-17):
- Successful formation of a specialized team led by the Principal Investigator (PI).
- Establishment of four thematic strands: "Data Modeling," "People and Movement," "Place and Space," and "Text Transmission."
- Systematic extraction, correction, and adjustment of "person" data from diverse sources.
- Review and expansion of the database through the analysis of death and movement/location records from eleventh-century Byzantine and Central European sources.
- Translation of eleventh-century Armenian manuscripts colophons into English and incorporation into the database.
- Collection of over 200 documents from eleventh-century Italy, for further transcription and analysis.
Second Phase Results (months 18-30):
- Advanced the "People and Movement" strand by integrating further Armenian, Byzantine, and Germanic sources.
- Information extraction regarding people, locations and space from the first half of the collected Italian manuscripts.
- Brainstorming sessions to clarify offices, titles, and dignities in the aggregated dataset.
- Requirements outlined for modeling "Place and Space" data in the RELEVEN database, emphasizing physical and lived/social spaces.
- Collection of manuscript sources, transcription of certain of these into TEI-XML, and exploration of archaeological evidence.
The project marks a significant advancement in digital curation methods for medieval history data, moving beyond existing historical data management techniques. We introduce a novel framework for historical data through linked assertions, enabling a more dynamic and interconnected analysis based on evidence and contradiction. Through this framework, we are undertaking a deeper exploration into the political and intellectual environments of the 11th century, offering new insights into this period through our focus on people, the movements they made, how they perceived and interacted with the space around them, and how we can approach their world through the texts they left behind.
By the end of the project, we expect to have delivered:
- A sustainable maintenance strategy for the project's website, coupled with the establishment of a data repository linking to original digital resources.
- The development of an online analysis tool for 11th-century data, featuring advanced querying and visualization capabilities, alongside interactive visualizations that highlight connections and varying perspectives of the era.
- The compilation of a multi-authored volume, shedding new light on the people, places, and intellectual transmission of the 11th century.
- Publication of at least four scholarly articles focused on the methodologies and approaches used in the project.
By the end of the project, we expect to have delivered:
- A sustainable maintenance strategy for the project's website, coupled with the establishment of a data repository linking to original digital resources.
- The development of an online analysis tool for 11th-century data, featuring advanced querying and visualization capabilities, alongside interactive visualizations that highlight connections and varying perspectives of the era.
- The compilation of a multi-authored volume, shedding new light on the people, places, and intellectual transmission of the 11th century.
- Publication of at least four scholarly articles focused on the methodologies and approaches used in the project.