Geovisualization of historical cartography as an educational and informative resource: the case of the provinces of Spain

The present article describes an educational resource for the geovisualization of research conducted on the shaping and dissemination of the current administrative divisions in Spain (provinces), designed in the first third of the 19th century. To this end, the digital technology StoryMaps was used, as it allows adding a narrative to the maps, facilitating their correct interpretation in their historical context. A specific methodology is presented for the creation of a digital resource for historical geography. The final product is the result of exhaustive research on historical cartography that comprises 772 maps (whole or an enlargement of a fragment) found in diverse libraries and map libraries, mainly in Spain and France. Our resource allows the visualization, interaction, and analysis of the shaping of provincial divisions. At the same time, it promotes the spread of a cultural heritage of historical cartography which until now has been dispersed and often unknown. Furthermore, it provides a response to the educational need to make the knowledge of Spanish administrative divisions more attractive. The final product is an open digital resource for the transfer of research in academic and educational settings, which allows for the application of some of the Sustainable Development Goals.