136034 UE Digital Prosopography (2025S)

This course introduces students to prosopography, the field of study covering the handling of historical person data, and more briefly to the basics of social network analysis, the field of study that considers how persons or actors relate to one another in a structured way. It will take students through the necessary research processes and theories to critically undertake studies of this kind, including identifying relevant material, producing and modelling data structures, data collection processes, and visualising and drawing conclusions from the resulting data.

These methods especially apply to handling data from periods and situations where the source material does not allow for statistical robustness in the resulting data set - that is to say, any part of premodern history or any situation where our information is fragmentary or contested. Other applications, such as the use of the method to explore constructions and contexts in literature, film, and games, will also be considered. The course will then include elements on working with collected data subsequently, in particular through basic social network analysis tools and how other theoretical approaches might intersect with prosopography. We will also briefly cover the preservation, ethical considerations, and handling of information and datasets of this type.

The class will include discursive elements, and students are encouraged to bring their own interests, contexts, and approaches. The core examples used in class will tend to ancient and medieval history, but students wishing to explore the method for use elsewhere are equally welcome.