GIS for History: An Overview

Abstract

History and geography have a close relationship. Historical research cannot is not complete without geography, especially historical geography, which studies past geographic matters and phenomena as well as the laws of geographic development and evolution. Thanks to the rapid development and wide application of geographic information systems (GIS), GIS has attracted the attention of researchers in the field of historical studies, especially historical geography. A series of eye-catching accomplishments has been achieved in this field. However, although the concept of historical GIS has been known for many years, there have been no great breakthroughs in some of the related fundamental theories and key techniques, and the general methodology and software platform for historical GIS have not yet taken shape. With a focus on these problems, this thesis, following the sequence of methods and functions of GIS applied in historical studies, especially historical geographic studies, analyzes the literature from the following perspectives: visualization, organization, management, and spatial analysis of historical geographic data. Furthermore, this thesis introduces the major accomplishments of GIS applications in historical geography and in other historical studies and discusses the functions and influence of GIS in current historical studies as well as the problems and development trends of the current research; the goals of this study are to promote the profound integration and innovative development between GIS and historical studies and to lead historical GIS research to deeper development.