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Constructing Abstract Worlds of the Past
Author(s) -
Norton William
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
geographical analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.773
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1538-4632
pISSN - 0016-7363
DOI - 10.1111/j.1538-4632.1976.tb00535.x
Subject(s) - settlement (finance) , rank (graph theory) , relation (database) , geography , principal (computer security) , point (geometry) , regional science , quality (philosophy) , economic geography , archaeology , computer science , mathematics , data mining , epistemology , philosophy , geometry , combinatorics , world wide web , payment , operating system
A principal research need in historical geography is the creation of abstract worlds of the past. This study of agricultural settlement patterns in Upper Canada, 1782–1851, assesses the relative rank and sensitivity of land availability, point of entry, land quality, and distance to market in relation to a settler's decision to locate. Settlement patterns for years between 1782 and 1851 are simulated and compared to real world data by means of visual analysis of settlement maps and correlation analysis. For patterns before 1851 the dates of survey are important; by 1851 the effects of this factor are not evident.