Tag: linear

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Blog #3

Linear Expression of History and TimeMapper

Representing complex ideas in a graphical form is such a difficult pursuit that perhaps there can be no perfect finished product, as complex abstract ideas cannot be wholly expressed in visual terms. Grafton examines one of the  the oldest and most common ways in which we visualize history, the line. The line as a metaphor is so ubiquitous it appears to be inseparable from our understanding of the passage of time, thus its universality in chronology and graphical representations of history. The line, however important when dealing with the order of things, presents an account of history in a one-dimensional manner. History, as Grafton notes, is filled with relationships, details and digressions impossible to translate into a linear format. Graphical representation gives context to fact, establishes relationships and introduces new information- such as geography- that one might initially overlook. Above providing additional  information, graphical representations allows one to easily digest diverse forms of data. Linn’s narrative is closely effected by the events hundreds of miles from his physical location, events like outcomes of distant battles and politics in both Washington and Richmond. The responsiveness of very distant events and the personal life of a single civil war tie in closely with the developments of the 1860s. A message from across the atlantic ocean, thousands of miles from Linn’s position could alter is narrative within a matter of days or hours. One of the major events of the 1860s was the laying of the first transatlantic telegraph cable

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One of the most important events in the 1860s with an influence on Linn’s life.

. Immense changes  were underway during the 1860s that are very evident in Linn’s day-to-day narrative. In fact, the first four events on the TimeMapper follow a common theme; the creation of the first intercontinental railroad, the founding of the Pony Express, the opening of the Suez Canal and the invention of the bicycle.

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Here we see the first four events in the Timemapper deal with developments in travel and communication.

The world was becoming smaller, information, people and goods could be transported at an unprecedented rate. Countries and continents were interconnected in ways never before seen in history. Thus we immediately see the interweave of the events from the TimeMapper timeline and Linn’s narrative.

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Blog #3 Digging

Chronology of events using TimeMapper

Time Mapper is a great visual tool to categorize different historical events and figures in chronological order. Chronology orients the viewer by significant events and time and provides the viewer with a better understanding of more global events. For example, in Linn’s diary, he does not discuss the historical events occurring around him; rather, he gives his own personal account of what is happening to him. Timelines can allow us to look at specific dates in history and compare those global events to the dates and events Linn writes in his diary.

In Grafton’s essay, he discusses different approaches to using timelines effectively. Priestley created a timeline called the Chart of Biography, which indicated dates of the birth and death of historical figures. As a result, he came to the conclusion that “historical narrative is not linear”. Priestley and other theorists believed that a linear timeline does not accurately represent the countless connections and intersections between events and historical figures. Renouvier created a nonlinear timeline showing the different possible events that could have taken place if a different choice was made. Thus, he shows the actual events and hypothetical routes that led to different series of events. Renouvier’s timeline shows great contrast to Priestley’s, as Priestley only depicts factual dates and events in history. Another example of a nonlinear timeline would be Stapledon’s time scales. Stapledon looks at the larger picture by making the timeline across billions of years. This allows Stapledon to make overarching connections between the most significant events. A disadvantage to his time scale would be that he omits events that could have had a large effect on the specific events he chose to include.

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skiing 1862 and Mendeleev’s periodic table 1869

TimeMapper is a useful resource for putting major events in chronological order.
However, it does not give any representation of ideas or correlations between events except for time.For example, if we wanted to see if there was a connection between skiing in 1862 and Mendeleev’s Periodic Table in 1869,
TimeMapper would only show us that those two events are within the same decade. Timelines are helpful to give ourselves an idea of the time period Linn writes his diary, but it does not show relationships and connections between events.

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Beginning of the Civil War before Linn enlists in the war

Linn’s diary entries in winter 1862 discuss the struggles he must face, the daily procedures, encounters with other men, and places he travels to during the Civil War. TimeMapper in the 1860s can give us a better sense of what is happening around Linn while he is writing in his diary.

For example, on April 12, 1861,
the Fall of Fort Sumter occurred was the beginning of the Civil War. Three days later, James Merrill Linn enlisted in the war. TimeMapper gives us an accurate representation of where Linn’s diary entries fall into global events.

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Secession of southern states from the Union after Linn enlists in Civil War

Another example would be the secession of the southern states from the Union,
which happened between June 8 and August 12 of 1861. This was after Linn enlisted in the war and was a time of great instability in the states. The secession of the southern states further increased the tension amongst the north and south. This may have contributed to the challenges Linn faced while writing in his diary.

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Blog #3 Digging

Blog Post #3 Prompt

“On Time”
Due Sunday 10/5 by 11pm
Thinking about how we represent history has been a question that has occupied us for millennia.  Why does chronology of events matter?  What can it show?  How can we represent history? How do we “draw time”?

In “Time and Print,” Grafton observes that “Teachers and theorists claimed, over and over again, that chronology and geography were the two eyes of history: sources of precise, unquestionable information, which introduced order to the apparent chaos of events” (Grafton, p. 17)  At the same time, the author points to Joseph Priestley, the 19th century scientist who believed that “historical narrative is not linear.” (20) So how do we reconcile linear and nonlinear time?

In the process of compiling your entries for the collective 1860s Timemapper and thinking about how time played out for Linn in his diary, how have you come to terms with the complex relationship between ideas and modes of representation?  How does graphical representation clarifiy historical events?  Where do we place Linn’s narrative within that representation? Where do the 1860s and Linn’s experience in winter 1862 fit together?

Write a 300-word blog post on this topic.  Include at least three points from Grafton’s essay in your entry and at least two illustrative screen shots from Timemapper that illustrate your argument. Give your post the category “Blog #3” and at least five tags that help you to explain your work.

In addition, choose one of your classmates’ posts and give them feedback in the Comment box. Your comment should be 50-75 words in length and respond to a specific argument that is made in the post. For example, your comment might identify a correlation between your own post and one you see in your classmate’s work; it might introduce to the post’s author a different reading of something they interpreted in the Grafton essay; or it might reflect upon ways in which you both consider Linn’s experience within a larger chronological landscape.