Beyond lists: digital gazetteers and digital history

The advent of desktop GIS systems, along with increasing access to high-speed internet connections in the academy, has led to what some call the “spatial turn” in the study of history, and more broadly, the humanities. The Pleiades and World Historical Gazetteer (WHG) projects represent the intersection of spatial theory and digital methodologies, a unique combination that situates them at the forefront of spatial history. Both projects began with the digitization of an exemplar print gazetteer, and have grown to embrace a collaborative model of research and development. In addition to producing and consuming geospatial content, both projects are heavily involved in the theorization and reconceptualization of such fundamental ideas as place, space, and the expression of relationships between geographic and political entities. This article outlines theoretical and methodological approaches of the two projects and highlights the increasing use and importance of linked data in the practice of digital spatial history. It explores how a wide variety of projects can leverage resources like Pleiades and the WHG, which allows for the development of new research while simultaneously contributing to the growing spatial history digital ecosystem.