“Onomasticon, Prosopografia dell’Università degli Studi di Perugia”

The Origin of the Project, Present Database Features and Future Challenges

Abstract

The paper aims to illustrate the “Onomasticon” database – Onomasticon (unipg.it) –, delving into both its scientific underpinnings and technical intricacies. Initially, a brief overview of the project's genesis, its scientific rationale, and its envisioned applications will be provided. Subsequently, attention will be directed towards the technical aspects of the database, tracing its evolution from an informatics perspective. Lastly, perspectives between the historical investigation and computational resources will be offered. The "Onomasticon" database, started in 2008 for the occasion of the 700th anniversary ceremony of the University of Perugia, serves as a repository of research findings pertaining to the institution's history of the University of Perugia and the students and professors who studied and taught there.
With a focus on prosopographical studies, the database encompasses data on professors, students, courses, and the university's evolution between the Middle Ages and the modern age. From a technical point of view, the essay will explain the transition from Onomasticon 1.0 to Onomasticon 2.0, which involved the transition from a relational data model to a graph structure, which improves flexibility and performance and offers the possibility of integrating historical data with external resources like authority files and online databases enriches its utility. Challenges for the future include ensuring data reliability, addressing interpretative aspects, and enhancing the linkage with external resources. In the current research context that increasingly focuses on interdisciplinarity, the Onomasticon project stands as a testament to the fruitful collaboration between historical research and computational resources, offering valuable insights into the longstanding history of the University.