XML DATABASES IN THE HUMANITIES

The course is intended for second-year students of the Master's Degree in Digital and Public Humanities. It introduces the use, modeling, and querying of XML databases, with particular focus on examples and applications in the archival domain.

By the end of the course, students will have acquired:
• Knowledge of EAD3, the XML standard for the digital encoding of archival descriptions, eXist-db, XPath, and XQuery.
• The ability to create an archival database in eXist-db based on descriptions encoded in EAD3, and to write XQuery scripts to model and query the data.

Basic knowledge of XML is required.

The course will cover the following topics:
• Introduction to the EAD3 standard.
• Introduction to XPath and XQuery.
• Creation and querying of an archival XML database using eXist-db.

Documentation available on the official eXist-db website: https://exist-db.org/exist/apps/doc/documentation .

The final assessment will consist of an oral exam, during which students will present a project developed using the concepts and techniques studied during the course. The project may be defined and agreed upon either during the course or in preparation for the exam, by contacting the instructor via email at least 15 days prior to the exam date.

oral

Grade below 18 (exam not passed):
Insufficient knowledge and understanding of the course topics; inadequate level of participation in class and at home activities; project developed without adequate commitment or adequate understanding of XML usage and the methods for creating and modeling an archival database.
Grades 18–22:
Sufficient knowledge and understanding of the course topics; acceptable level of participation in class and at home activities; project developed with sufficient commitment and a basic understanding of XML usage and the methods for creating and modeling an archival database.
Grades 23–25:
Satisfactory knowledge and understanding of the course topics; fair level of participation in class and at home activities; project developed with satisfactory commitment and a satisfactory understanding of XML usage and the methods for creating and modeling an archival database.
Grades 26–28:
Good or very good knowledge and understanding of the course topics; high level of participation in class and at home activities; project developed with strong commitment and a very good understanding of XML usage and the methods for creating and modeling an archival database.
Grades 29–30 (or 30 cum laude):
Excellent or outstanding knowledge and understanding of the course topics; exemplary level of participation in class and at home activities; project developed with excellent commitment and an outstanding understanding of XML usage and the methods for creating and modeling an archival database.

The course includes introductory lectures and practical exercises.