Proso:portal is a new initiative for finding and connecting historical data resources. It aims to provide simple, accessible, long-term information on data about the premodern world: where to find it, how it can be used, and how it affects our understanding of the historic past.

This resource is specifically about finding searchable databases of historical information: it does not generally include other digital resources such as podcasts, general-interest websites, archives of papers, manuscript catalogues, and similar. Potential meta-resources where you might find those things include the Save Ancient Studies online resource list and the Medieval Academy of America Digital resources list.

There are two main planned ways of navigating our list of datasets:

Data bibliographies: these are simple lists of data. A resource can be in multiple data bibliographies: the aim is that each list is as comprehensive as possible for its particular theme.

Metadata browser (in development): The metadata browser will allow a user to specify areas of space-time (a chronology and a map polygon) that they wish to explore, and to then be pointed at datasets where we have metadata indicating that they overlap with the area.

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The current index of data bibliographies is as follows:

• Data Bibliography: All Premodern Prosopographies
• Data Bibliography: The Byzantine World

We also maintain some general bibliographies as starting points for people seeking to learn more about these fields:

• Bibliography: Basic Resources and Teaching Materials
• Bibliography: Studying Prosopography

The contributors to Proso:portal are listed here. We rely on the generous contributions of the historical community to keep these lists up to date. If you find a broken link, or have additions to make to any of the data bibliographies, then please make a post on the support forum or send the lead maintainer an email.