Digital Knowledge

1) What is a brief history of the encyclopedia?

The encyclopedia is a branch of knowledge that have lots of entries to record the factual information in order to illustrate things and make a general system for the offspring.

Briefly, the earliest encyclopedia is the Naturalis Historia which is written by Pliny the Elder. His work involves many different chapters such as geography, medicine and so on. Although it probably lacks of proofing the facts, it is so comprehensive as it covers more than 20,000 facts from other authors and his own experience.

In the Middle Ages, there are different kinds of encyclopedia which cover classical erudition and Christians thought. And different countries can have encyclopedias for themselves. For example, China have the Four Greats Books of Song to be the encyclopedic work during the Song Dynasty. During Renaissance, the encyclopedias are more common for scholar and public to have because of the invention of printing.

Since the international development in the 19th and early 20th century, more languages are used for encyclopedia and thus larger market are developed. As for the modern encyclopedia, it is electronic and can even available for everyone to join and use.

2) What are some key features of that encyclopedia

a) according to Wikipedia
Wikipedia is written by thousands of volunteers around the world and supported by non-profit organization. Indeed, it is managed by all-volunteer staff. Everyone can join and edit the information of Wikipedia on the Internet, it means that Wikipedia is not only controlled by the experts. Moreover, its content consists of lots of unacademic topic that can be general reference works for student to do a research. Wikipedia articles are across many Different languages and one-third articles are in English.

b) according to Encyclopedia Brittannica
Encyclopedia Brittannica is written by full-time editors and experts. It can be regarded as multi-volume works. It have a hierarchical give a hierarchical format for outline of knowledge and thus it is useful for checking the fact quickly. Its articles are all in English either.

3) Which encyclopedia was most useful for this research?

I think Wikipedia was most useful for research as it contains many basic information across different kinds of topic for an uninitiated people.

As the above mentioned, its entries and articles are in many different languages such as japanese and French. If anyone want to use the information from Wikipedia, they just need to get it on the Internet freely. Undoubtedly, Wikipedia are in international way for people to get the information they want.

Also, it is unlike Encyclopedia Brittannica as there is no need to study how to find more detailed articles through the hierarchical outline.

4) Can you trust this encyclopedia (the one you used) 100%? Why or why not?

I cannot trust this encyclopedia, Wikipedia fully. It is because anyone can be the editors to change the information. Although there are some volunteer to manage the system and help undating the content after people did an editing, its content may not be correct.

The reason for that is Wikipedia prefer to the "Neutral Point of View" policy. Diverse political, religious, cultural opinions are involved, thus it may not be reliable. Even there are some articles of Encyclopedia Brittannica in earlier editions are criticised that it is not accurate and being questioned. Therefore, I think Wikipedia articles can only be reference works. And I would not trust Wikipedia 100%.