└── README.md /README.md: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | # ⚠️ Temporary Notice 2 | 3 | Thank you for your interest in this project. 4 | 5 | Please note that all project files are currently hidden while a comprehensive update is in progress. This is part of an effort to ensure that the final release is accurate, polished, and aligned with the quality standards we aim to deliver. 6 | 7 | All files will be made publicly available once the update is fully completed. 8 | 9 | We appreciate your patience and understanding, and we look forward to sharing the finalized version with you soon. 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | # Seir: From Narrative to Network: A Spatio-Temporal GIS Analysis of the Prophetic Sira 14 | 15 | [![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-green.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT) 16 | 17 | This repository contains the data, GIS analysis files, and code for the research project, "From Narrative to Network." We transform the classic narrative of the Prophet's life (Sira) from a linear text into a dynamic, multi-dimensional spatio-temporal network. 18 | 19 | By leveraging Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Network Analysis, this project moves beyond *what* happened to explore *how and why it happened spatially*, revealing the geographical logic and logistical complexity of the early Islamic state. 20 | 21 | --- 22 | 23 | ## 📖 Table of Contents 24 | * [About the Project](#about-the-project) 25 | * [Key Features](#key-features) 26 | * [Technology Stack](#technology-stack) 27 | * [The Geodatabase](#the-geodatabase) 28 | * [Installation & Setup](#installation--setup) 29 | * [How to Replicate the Analysis](#how-to-replicate-the-analysis) 30 | * [Project Structure](#project-structure) 31 | * [Key Findings & Visualizations](#key-findings--visualizations) 32 | * [How to Cite This Work](#how-to-cite-this-work) 33 | * [License](#license) 34 | * [Contact](#contact) 35 | 36 | --- 37 | 38 | ## 🌟 About the Project 39 | 40 | Traditional studies of the Prophetic Sira, while invaluable, are often constrained by a "narrative paradigm." They present events in a linear, chronological sequence, treating geography as a passive backdrop rather than an active agent in history. 41 | 42 | This project challenges that paradigm by building a comprehensive **Spatio-Temporal Geodatabase** of all major "movement events" (raids, expeditions, missions, and migrations) documented in classical sources. Using advanced spatial analysis, we model these events as a growing network, allowing for a quantitative understanding of the early Muslim community's expansion, strategic priorities, and logistical capabilities. 43 | 44 | The result is a "deep map" of the Sira—an interactive, data-driven model that can be queried and analyzed to answer questions that were previously impossible to address. 45 | 46 | --- 47 | 48 | ## ✨ Key Features 49 | 50 | 1. **🗺️ Spatio-Temporal Geodatabase:** A meticulously researched and georeferenced database of hundreds of events from the Sira. It serves as an open-source foundation for future digital Islamic humanities research. 51 | 2. **📈 Quantitative Spatial & Network Analysis:** We applied a suite of analytical techniques to uncover hidden patterns: 52 | * **Hotspot Analysis:** To identify geographical clusters of intense activity. 53 | * **Spatial Network Analysis:** To measure the evolving **centrality** of Madinah as the hub of the nascent state. 54 | * **Spatial Correlation:** To statistically test the relationship between movement paths and known historical trade routes. 55 | 3. **⏳ Interactive Time-Lapse Visualization:** A dynamic web map that visualizes the growth of the network year by year, allowing users to explore the spatial unfolding of the Sira. 56 | 57 | --- 58 | 59 | ## 🛠️ Technology Stack 60 | 61 | * **GIS Software:** ArcGIS Pro / QGIS 62 | * **Data Processing & Analysis:** Python (GeoPandas, Pandas, NetworkX) 63 | * **Geodatabase Format:** Esri File Geodatabase / GeoPackage 64 | * **Interactive Web Map:** Leaflet.js / Mapbox GL JS 65 | * **Analysis Environment:** Jupyter Notebooks 66 | 67 | --- 68 | 69 | ## 🗃️ The Geodatabase 70 | 71 | The core of this project is a comprehensive geodatabase (`sira_events.gdb` / `sira_events.gpkg`) containing point and line features for each documented event. 72 | 73 | **Key Attributes for Each Event:** 74 | * `Event_Name`: The name of the expedition, raid, or migration. 75 | * `Event_Type`: (e.g., Ghazwa, Sariyya, Hijra). 76 | * `Date_Start` / `Date_End`: The precise or estimated dates. 77 | * `Source_Text`: The primary historical source (e.g., Ibn Ishaq, Al-Waqidi). 78 | * `Geographic_Confidence`: The confidence level of the georeferenced location (Confirmed, Probable, Possible). 79 | * `Path_Geometry`: The reconstructed route for events involving travel. 80 | 81 | Primary sources for data extraction included *Sirat Ibn Ishaq*, Al-Waqidi's *Kitab al-Maghazi*, and historical geographical dictionaries like Yaqut al-Hamawi's *Mu'jam al-Buldan*. 82 | 83 | --- 84 | 85 | ## ⚙️ Installation & Setup 86 | 87 | To explore the analysis code, you will need a Python environment with geospatial capabilities. 88 | 89 | 1. **Clone the repository:** 90 | ```sh 91 | git clone https://github.com/your-username/sira-spatial-network.git 92 | cd sira-spatial-network 93 | ``` 94 | 2. **Create a Conda environment (recommended for handling GIS libraries):** 95 | ```sh 96 | conda create -n sira_gis python=3.9 97 | conda activate sira_gis 98 | ``` 99 | 3. **Install the required packages:** 100 | ```sh 101 | conda install -c conda-forge geopandas pandas networkx jupyterlab 102 | ``` 103 | 104 | --- 105 | 106 | ## 🚀 How to Replicate the Analysis 107 | 108 | 1. **Explore the Geodatabase:** Open the project's GIS files (e.g., `.aprx`, `.qgz`) or the geodatabase in the `/geodatabase` directory using your preferred GIS software. 109 | 2. **Run the Analysis Notebooks:** Launch Jupyter Lab (`jupyter lab`) and navigate to the `/notebooks` directory. The notebooks are structured to follow the research workflow: 110 | * `1_Data_Preparation.ipynb`: Shows how the raw data was cleaned and prepared for analysis. 111 | * `2_Spatial_Pattern_Analysis.ipynb`: Contains the hotspot and point pattern analysis. 112 | * `3_Network_Centrality_Analysis.ipynb`: Details the construction of the network and the calculation of centrality metrics over time. 113 | 114 | --- 115 | 116 | ## 📁 Project Structure 117 | 118 | ``` 119 | sira-spatial-network/ 120 | ├── geodatabase/ 121 | │ └── sira_events.gpkg # The primary geodatabase file 122 | │ 123 | ├── notebooks/ 124 | │ ├── 1_Data_Preparation.ipynb 125 | │ ├── 2_Spatial_Pattern_Analysis.ipynb 126 | │ └── 3_Network_Centrality_Analysis.ipynb 127 | │ 128 | ├── web_visualization/ 129 | │ ├── index.html 130 | │ └── data/ 131 | │ └── events.geojson # Data for the interactive map 132 | │ 133 | ├── .gitignore 134 | ├── LICENSE 135 | └── README.md 136 | ``` 137 | 138 | --- 139 | 140 | ## 🔬 Key Findings & Visualizations 141 | 142 | Our analysis provides data-driven insights into the strategic geography of the Sira. 143 | 144 | * **The Network of Influence:** The analysis quantitatively demonstrates the rapid growth of Madinah's **centrality**. It evolved from an isolated node into the dominant hub of a vast and complex network in less than a decade. 145 | * **Corridors of Movement:** Statistical analysis confirms a strong spatial correlation between prophetic movements and the major trade routes of the Hejaz, suggesting a deliberate strategy to secure and control vital economic arteries. 146 | * **Interactive Sira Map:** The project's primary output is a dynamic map that allows users to filter events by year and type, providing an intuitive and powerful tool for exploring the spatial history of early Islam. 147 | 148 | ![Interactive Sira Map](https://via.placeholder.com/800x450.png?text=Interactive+Spatio-Temporal+Map+of+the+Sira) 149 | *(This is a placeholder. Replace it with a screenshot of your interactive map.)* 150 | 151 | --- 152 | 153 | ## ✍️ How to Cite This Work 154 | 155 | If you use the dataset or methodology from this project in your research, please cite our publication: 156 | 157 | > [Your Name/Team Name]. (Year). "From Narrative to Network: A Spatio-Temporal GIS Analysis of the Prophetic Sira". *Journal of Digital Humanities / Historical Geography*, Volume(Issue), pp. Page-Numbers. [DOI/URL] 158 | 159 | --- 160 | 161 | ## 📜 License 162 | 163 | This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details. 164 | 165 | --- 166 | 167 | ## 📬 Contact 168 | 169 | **Principal Investigator:** [Your Name] – [youremail@example.com] 170 | 171 | Project Link: [https://github.com/your-username/sira-spatial-network](https://github.com/your-username/sira-spatial-network) 172 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------