As part of Ilia’s Thursday, on May 25 the Tbilisi Museums Union – Ilia Chavchavadze Literary Memorial Museum hosted a public lecture titled “Network of European Enlightenment in 19th century Georgia,” delivered by Nino Doborjginidze, a distinguished scientist, researcher, doctor of linguistics.
The speaker introduced the “Prosopographical Base of the Society for the Spreading of Literacy among Georgians,” a digital humanities project developed at Ilia State University. Nino Doborjginidze highlighted the formative phases surrounding the concept of European enlightenment within 19th-century Georgia’s state identity. Additionally, the lecture highlighted the historical emergence of the Society for the Society for the Spreading of Literacy among Georgians led by Ilia Chavchavadze.
The aforementioned society, since 1879 has been instrumental in spreading knowledge, safeguarding, and strengthening national values, particularly the Georgian language. Throughout its existence, the society established numerous schools. Furthermore, it actively engaged in publishing, curating libraries, and museums, and conducting scientific research endeavors.
During the lecture, the speaker discussed previously undisclosed microhistories concerning local associations, cultural-educational groups, diverse social entities, and professional guilds. These historical narratives were reconstructed and brought to light through the contemporary methodology of digital humanities, allowing for their restoration and visualization.
