Constructing a county-level environmental events dataset for China during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911)

Bibliographic Data

ID11253004
AuthorsKai Cheng (0000-0002-7918-3465, University of Birmingham), Sami Bensassi (0000-0002-8352-9609, University of Birmingham), Robert J R Elliott (0000-0002-3966-2082, University of Birmingham, corresponding author), Eric Strobl (0000-0002-1583-6412, University of Bern)
Year2024
Volume57
Issue3
Pages123-145
Publication date2024-07-02
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHistorical Methods A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0161-5440 • E-ISSN: 1940-1906
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01615440.2024.2369234
OpenAlexW4401235711
LanguageEN
References cited10

This article builds on China’s rich recorded history to present a newly constructed dataset of environmental events at the county-level for the period 1368 to 1911. Essential to the dataset construction is the use of recently developed AI techniques, including new optical character recognition, lexical analysis based on machine learning, and word frequency analysis. The result is that environmental information was extracted from different sources, comprised of structured collections of printed historical records, and then combined and parameterized to construct a county-level environmental dataset that includes information on the incidence of cold spells, droughts, floods, and wind events. The dataset is validated and Geographic Information Systems are used to manage and present the spatially disaggregated data. The new data are expected to benefit future researchers looking to study historical environmental extreme events, or examine their impact on other aspects of Chinese economy and society

Aesthetics · Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · China · Five Dynasties · History · Tree-ring climate responses

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