Tribune: Analysing Spiritual Networks, Creating Research Networks

Abstract

Monastic and Spirituality Networks is far from being a monograph that presents the final conclusions of a research project. This is not its purpose. It is, however, the last in a series of monographs born in the last five years under the umbrella of the Spiritual Landscapes project as a result of the research carried out by its team.1 Moreover, like the previous studies, Monastic and Spirituality Networks includes some of the results of this project.2 Therefore, in order to introduce this volume of essays, it is necessary to frame it within its broader context. The nature of our work over the years, the means we have used to disseminate it, and the manner in which we have shared it are inextricably linked to the overall design of Spiritual Landscapes as a Digital Humanities project that is innovative in its format and in the way it transmits and exchanges knowledge. This approach has led us to combine digital products, deep-mapping techniques, and the publication of research results in journals and books. Right from the start, Spiritual Landscapes was organised around four Research Lines and two Exchange Areas. These Research Lines encompass four different ways of approaching and developing landscape analysis models which, at four different levels, highlight the historical topography of the territory, the topography of each female monastery, the analysis of their interior spaces, and finally emphasise their visualization and study as networks.