History Visualization in the Digital Era: A New Format for Historical Heritage Representation

Abstract

The article examines the phenomenon of visual history in the digital age as a new format for representing the past. The relevance of the topic is determined by the rapid development of digital technologies, which transform the ways of preserving, interpreting, and disseminating historical knowledge. The aim of the study is to analyze the features of the formation of visual history as an interdisciplinary field and to determine its role in contemporary practices of understanding the past. The methodological framework is based on historical-cultural, interdisciplinary, comparative, and visual-analytical approaches, which made it possible to comprehensively explore the interaction between history, media, and digital technologies. The study employs methods of analyzing digital sources, interpreting visual content, and generalizing scholarly approaches to the problem of historical representation. The results of the study show that visual history in the digital age functions as an effective tool for communicating historical knowledge, combining textual, audiovisual, and interactive elements. It is substantiated that digital platforms, social networks, and multimedia resources contribute to expanding access to historical information, shaping new models of historical memory, and actively engaging users in the process of interpreting the past. It is revealed that the visualization of history enhances the perception of complex historical processes; however, it also creates risks of simplification, fragmentation, and subjectivization of historical knowledge. Theconclusions emphasize that visual history is an important direction in the development of modern historical science, reflecting a shift in the paradigm of historical cognition under the influence of digitalization. It opens up new opportunities for the study and popularization of the past, but requires a critical approach to the use of visual sources and digital tools. The obtained results can be used for further research in the fields of historiography, digital humanities, and media communications.