Historical Events Database - History

[Voyageur]

Re: Historical Events Database

Any thoughts?

I often do this also, yet you need a good list of words to test it. If it is a very distinct word that does not show up, then it is a good bet it is not discussed. Using famine and getting no results should require similar words, such as pstilence, to be tested, too, osit.

Others who may know the certainties of these pdf formats may have other thinking.

 

[Approaching Infinity]

Re: Historical Events Database

Any thoughts?

I often do this also, yet you need a good list of words to test it. If it is a very distinct word that does not show up, then it is a good bet it is not discussed. Using famine and getting no results should require similar words, such as pstilence, to be tested, too, osit.

Others who may know the certainties of these pdf formats may have other thinking.

I think this is a good approach, but only as an initial point for data entry. If someone uses this method with a text, the text should also be gone over in full, because certain events might describe a famine, for example, without actually using the word. So, if someone uses this method, I think they should make note of it here, and the text should be given a second, more detailed, reading by someone else. Either way, it's good to have someone else doublecheck any work done, because we're all human and can miss important data.

 

[Palinurus]

Re: Historical Events Database

Thank you for your prompt responses, voyageur and AI. I agree with you both that any text should be searched with multiple keywords and synonyms to get the full picture.

So, if I can proceed as sketched I would like to volunteer for the complete works of Flavius Josephus to start with. Maybe PDF files of other writers later on.

To be able to contribute I'll need a password for the other site.

Looking forward to participate... :)

 

[Scottie]

Re: Historical Events Database

Hmm... putting lat and long data in when it is available or can be found might be useful. Could we have a thing with a drop down menu that we could add to as we go? Or would that be too difficult? Part of the problem is that some cities/locations changed names depending on period or chronicler so we may need some location names that are like "name/name/name".

Yeah, that's the problem... With Google Maps, you can tell is "San Antonio, TX" and it will return a lat/lng. This is what happens for SOTT article locations, although you never actually see the lat/lng. But these location names are all modern ones. So, somehow, we'd have to enter lat/lng + location name, and that would be recorded. Then for future entries, the drop-down list would include all existing locations entered, or you could manually enter a new lat/lng + location name.

Getting the initial lat/lng would be a bit tricky, since it would be a pretty manual process, like so:

1. Look at map in book showing The Great Golden City of Ur
2. Compare to modern Google Map, and estimate location
3. Get lat/lng of estimated location from modern Google map

Not exactly precise...

So, maybe just "Location past" and "Location present" as text names like they are now, but add autocomplete dropdown for faster data entry?

 

[Zadius Sky]

Re: Historical Events Database

Would it be more pertinent to read the original language of the documents rather than the translation? I was thinking about a translator could make few errors of what they were reading/translating of the descriptions of certain event(s). I just don't want to miss any detail.

 

[Cosmos]

Re: Historical Events Database

Would it be more pertinent to read the original language of the documents rather than the translation? I was thinking about a translator could make few errors of what they were reading/translating of the descriptions of certain event(s). I just don't want to miss any detail.

Yes for sure!

If you can read it in the original language it was written in, it will always be more precise. So if you can do that, I think you should read it in the original language...

 

[Palinurus]

Re: Historical Events Database

While still continuing my search of world history time line something suddenly occurred to me: why not use the periodicity of Halley's comet as one of the frameworks or backbones or continuous reference points for our database, especially when based on confirmed sightings:

Source: _http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halley%27s_Comet

Apparitions

Halley's calculations enabled the comet's earlier appearances to be found in the historical record. The following table sets out the astronomical designations for every apparition of Halley's Comet from 240 BC, the earliest documented widespread sighting.[2][49] For example, "1P/1982 U1, 1986 III, 1982i" indicates that for the perihelion in 1986, Halley was the first period comet known (designated 1P) and this apparition was the first seen in "half-month" U (the second half of October)[50] in 1982 (giving 1P/1982 U1); it was the third comet past perihelion in 1986 (1986 III); and it was the ninth comet spotted in 1982 (provisional designation 1982i). The perihelion dates of each apparition are shown.[51] The perihelion dates farther from the present are approximate, mainly because of uncertainties in the modeling of non-gravitational effects. Perihelion dates 1607 and later are in the Gregorian calendar, while perihelion dates of 1531 and earlier are in the Julian calendar.[52]

1P/−239 K1, −239 (25 May 240 BC)
1P/−163 U1, −163 (12 November 164 BC)
1P/−86 Q1, −86 (6 August 87 BC)
1P/−11 Q1, −11 (10 October 12 BC)
1P/66 B1, 66 (25 January 66 AD)
1P/141 F1, 141 (22 March 141)
1P/218 H1, 218 (17 May 218)
1P/295 J1, 295 (20 April 295)
1P/374 E1, 374 (16 February 374)
1P/451 L1, 451 (28 June 451)
1P/530 Q1, 530 (27 September 530)
1P/607 H1, 607 (15 March 607)
1P/684 R1, 684 (2 October 684)
1P/760 K1, 760 (20 May 760)
1P/837 F1, 837 (28 February 837)
1P/912 J1, 912 (18 July 912)
1P/989 N1, 989 (5 September 989)
1P/1066 G1, 1066 (20 March 1066)
1P/1145 G1, 1145 (18 April 1145)
1P/1222 R1, 1222 (28 September 1222)
1P/1301 R1, 1301 (25 October 1301)
1P/1378 S1, 1378 (10 November 1378)
1P/1456 K1, 1456 (9 June 1456)
1P/1531 P1, 1531 (26 August 1531)
1P/1607 S1, 1607 (27 October 1607)
1P/1682 Q1, 1682 (15 September 1682)
1P/1758 Y1, 1759 I (13 March 1759, predicted by Halley)
1P/1835 P1, 1835 III (16 November 1835)
1P/1909 R1, 1910 II, 1909c (20 April 1910)
1P/1982 U1, 1986 III, 1982i (9 February 1986)
Next perihelion predicted 28 July 2061

[continued...]

 

[Palinurus]

Re: Historical Events Database

Also found this: _http://www.naturalnews.com/026178_flu_influenza_bird.html

Timeline: World History of Viral Pandemics: 412BC to 2009

When observing the swine flu outbreak happening today, it's helpful to have some historical context. Viral pandemics are not unusual, and talking about one isn't "alarmist." Pandemics are a regular feature of life on earth, and they occur with surprising regularity throughout world history.

Wherever there are masses of people, there are opportunities for viruses to spread. It is especially important to note that even with all of today's "advanced" medical technology (which really isn't that advanced in many ways), today's swine flu virus eluded all the world's infectious disease authorities, spreading to more than seven different countries before it even appeared on the CDC's radar. Modern technology, it turns out, is no more effective at halting the spread of swine flu than having no technology at all.

Here's a timeline of all the larger pandemics recorded throughout human history. This timeline is borrowed from the book How to Beat the Bird Flu by Mike Adams. The full book can be purchased in downloadable or hardcopy editions at _www.TruthPublishing.com.

[continued with a list of pandemics...]

 

[seek10]

Re: Historical Events Database

Getting the initial lat/lng would be a bit tricky, since it would be a pretty manual process, like so:

Are there any way we can get cross reference between old and new cities ?. If already available from some expert, it is very good. Of course borders will be different, so may not be so accurate, but good for approximation.

 

[Mikey]

Re: Historical Events Database

I sent a PM with login data to all who volunteered so far.

Notice that each event has one or more numbers pointing to its source(s) so it should be relatively easy to get the additional info if needed.

The sources with numbers are here: _http://www.phenomena.org.uk/page29/page100/page100.html

If it wouldn't be more work than it's worth, could I make some a suggestion for the schema design? I'm not sure if it would be appropriate to post it here though.

Sure!

Getting the initial lat/lng would be a bit tricky, since it would be a pretty manual process, like so:

1. Look at map in book showing The Great Golden City of Ur
2. Compare to modern Google Map, and estimate location
3. Get lat/lng of estimated location from modern Google map

It could by made very easy, because there is this database:

_http://pleiades.stoa.org

They have 30000 location names with GPS coordinates and time periods in CSV format. It could be easily integrated into our little app -- if needed. I'll wait for more feedback.

So, maybe just "Location past" and "Location present" as text names like they are now, but add autocomplete dropdown for faster data entry?

There is already autocomplete for those 2 location fields.

 

[shijing]

Re: Historical Events Database

I sent a PM with login data to all who volunteered so far.

Please add me too, Data. I'll start searching tomorrow and choose an author from the list to start with.

 

[Lucius]

Re: Historical Events Database

I'm adding First information from:
HISTORY OF THE LANGOBARDS
(Historia Langobardorum)
by Paul the Deacon (Paulus Diaconus)
Translated by William Dudley Foulke, LL.D.
Published 1907 by the University of Pennsylvania

The region of the north, in proportion as it is removed from the heat of the sun and is chilled with snow
and frost, is so much the more healthful to the bodies of men and fitted for the propagation of nations,
just as, on the other hand, every southern region, the nearer it is to the heat of the sun, the more it
abounds in diseases and is less fitted for the bringing up of the human race

I have found that site where you can find "Original scan of book - not only pdf.."
https://archive.org/details/historyoflangoba00pauluoft

I have suggest to ad "Upload document" pdf etc. then for all record there will be pdf document.

I want to ask what means:
"Location past" ?
"Location present" ?

and "Validity" ?

And I would add "notes" for the location :)

[1] Paul's designation of the whole region from the Don to the west, as Germany, which is wholly
incorrect, appears, according to Mommsen (p. 61), to have come from his misinterpretation of the words
of his authority, Isidore of Seville

Then I will mark Germany but don't have "notes" to imput this information.

 

[Lucius]

Re: Historical Events Database

I have fond great site with date:
http://francia.ahlfeldt.se/page/sources/6985

And roman with cities and date:
http://imperium.ahlfeldt.se/

 

[Mikey]

Re: Historical Events Database

I want to ask what means:
"Location past" ?
"Location present" ?

Location past: the ancient name of the city/area/state (optional) (auto-hints)
Location today: the modern name of the city/area/state (optional) (auto-hints)

For now it can be either/or/none. But it's good to have it since it will allow us to draw maps later.

I'm currently adding into the database 30000 ancient location names and 90000 modern location names with GPS coordinates and autocomplete feature. Will be available later today or tomorrow.

and "Validity" ?

Validity: estimated truthfulness/fidelity of the event report (optional)

 

[Zadius Sky]

Re: Historical Events Database

Data, I took a look at the database just and saw Laura's and Icedesert's additions, and no longer saw yours or Mr. Scott's like yesterday. Will it have "1 of 2 pages" feature? I was wondering about looking back over my additions in the future in case if I already added it or not.

I'm currently reading about Zosimus before reading his works to get a better understanding about the background. This guy was no "original historian" but considered to be the first historian of Rome's Fall. He pretty much copied Dexippus, Eunapius, and Olympiodus works. I'd be reading 1814 English translation and if I see something, I'll go back to the original Greek source and try to translate it myself. I know basic Latin, but it'll be interesting to learn some Greek.