It also helps to put the state-centered historical narrative of Victor Lieberman into a broader perspective. In the context of prevailing historiography, this is an important contribution, and helps enrich our overall picture of developments during the period and in the place under examination. We have before us a very readable perspective on early modem regional history that does not express the central Thai point- of-view, but rather that of the peripheral Lao. Towards this goal the development of tools to analyze this dimension of manuscripts is essential, namely historical Geographical Information System (GIS) tools to be elaborated on in great length below. A special emphasis will be placed on historical geography and the production of maps to visualize this dimension of manuscripts. In its essence the thesis work will be cross-culturally comparative emphasizing the empirical diversity of manuscript cultures (Burmese, Tai, Lanna, Pali) that exist in mainland Southeast Asia. Although the focus will be on U Kala’s Burmese historical chronicle, the approach will not be regionally limited to Burma as previous work on Burmese history has been. In addition to software and databases to aid the translator, workflows are also proposed. A set of tools is needed to transform chronicle manuscripts into a scholarly translation in a timely and accurate fashion. U Kala's Mahayazawingyi is arguably the most important Burmese historical chronicle, yet no scholar has yet studied the text in depth.
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