Project Overview
In this video project, I chronologically visualize how the land under agriculture in the South Asian region has changed over the longue durée (10,000 BC to 2000 AD). My goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of agricultural expansion in South Asia.
Data & Methodology
This visualization is built upon the estimates provided by the HYDE (History Database of the Global Environment) dataset. By utilizing GIS tools to process this environmental history dataset, I was able to animate the expansion of agricultural zones, revealing patterns often obscured by static maps.
Key Insights
- Challenges the notion of a static pre-modern environment.
- Highlights specific periods of rapid agricultural expansion corresponding with socio-political shifts.
- Raises questions about the "wild" vs. "cultivated" binary in South Asian history.