Stamp of the War of Independence in Alicante
In a notable recognition, the Contemporary History Association honored Professor Rafael Zurita of the University of Alicante with a clarification award for the web address War Landscapes. The award comes from a body of Spanish experts in contemporary history that promotes the dissemination of research results across multiple formats, aiming to broaden the social reach of historical knowledge.
Image from the web Battle sights.
War Landscapes examines the cultural landscapes formed by the battlefields of the War of the Spanish Independence from 1808 to 1814. These spaces, which have evolved into places of memory since the 19th century, have often reflected the era’s political nationalism and, in some cases, the legitimization of war. The project emphasizes that sharing and translating research findings should contribute to a culture that values peace and understanding the lasting effects, myths, and representations of war. This approach promotes a broader, more peaceful cultural narrative rather than a purely martial one.
The resources on the PAdGUE website illustrate the heritage significance of cultural landscapes tied to the battles and sieges of the War of Independence. The study presents results from thirteen battle sites including Badajoz, Bailén, Cádiz-Chiclana, Castalla, Girona, La Albuera, Los Arapiles, Sagunto, Somosierra, Tarragona, Valencia, Vitoria, and Zaragoza. A smart digital platform known as a semantic network provides geo-located, tagged, and interconnected historical sources that are accessible via mobile apps, such as the María Bellido monument in Bailén. Each war scenario has its own web page, offering a current landscape summary, a map delineating the battlefield, resource locations, an audio-visual report, and brief video clips that supply additional context.
The project blends digital history with field study to create a usable, location-aware archive for researchers, educators, and the general public. It presents a comprehensive view of how battlefronts were understood and experienced at the time, while also revealing how memory and interpretation have evolved since. This approach aligns with a broader movement toward digital humanities, where cultural heritage is made accessible through smart technology and transmedia storytelling. The work demonstrates how historical resources can be organized in a way that supports learning across generations and regions, encouraging discussion about the legacies of war and how societies remember the past.
Geographic information about each battlefield is complemented by multimedia narratives that help viewers connect emotionally with history. The platform supports navigation on the move, enabling users to discover nearby routes and content relevant to their location. The project also demonstrates how digital storytelling and mobile accessibility can expand the reach of historical knowledge beyond traditional classrooms or museums. The content has resonated with audiences on social networks and platforms like YouTube, where many videos have attracted substantial viewership, reflecting strong public interest in these historical landscapes and their stories.
The project also features a free mobile application called PAdGUE Routes, available on the Play Store. It provides eleven predefined routes and allows users to craft personalized itineraries based on their current location. The route map includes a QR code generator, and QR codes appear on various resources to support nomadic museum experiences. The application represents a robust example of digital dissemination and knowledge transfer, combining interdisciplinary collaboration with a modern, interactive delivery model. It illustrates how digital platforms can extend the reach of historical research and make it more engaging for diverse audiences, including younger generations who interact with content primarily through mobile devices.
Overall, the work stands as a practical demonstration of how history, geography, and digital media converge to create a flexible, accessible narrative of the War of Independence. It shows how scholarly inquiry can be translated into public-facing tools that educate, inform, and inspire curiosity about the past while promoting reflection on peace and memory. Through a transmedia communication framework, the project spreads across social networks and reaches segments of the population that might not engage with traditional academic materials, broadening the impact of historical research without compromising scholarly rigor.