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Evaluating the Potential of Computational Modelling for Informing Debates on Roman Economic Integration

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Complexity Economics

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Ancient Economies ((PASTAE))

Abstract

This chapter argues that existing approaches to the study of the Roman economy need to be complemented with formal computational tools that enable comparisons of complex theories. It illustrates this by means of a case study simulating correlations between prices of tableware and the distance from their place of production. This case study is inspired by arguments by Peter Temin about correlations of grain prices with distance from Rome. The results reveal that there is a correlation between distance to the tableware production site and the price of a transaction, but that in most cases this does not reflect the transport cost. The ability to formally represent theories, compare them against observations, and highlight interesting variability between markets are considered highly constructive contributions.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Scheidel, Morris, and Saller, The Cambridge Economic History of the Greco-Roman World; Scheidel, The Cambridge Companion to the Roman Economy.

  2. 2.

    A good example and overview of this is offered by Wilson et al., “A Forum on Trade”.

  3. 3.

    For an extensive discussion of this need, see this recently published manifesto: Brughmans et al., “Formal Modelling Approaches to Complexity Science in Roman Studies”.

  4. 4.

    Notable exceptions are the “Finding the limits of the Limes” project (Verhagen, Joyce, and Groenhuijzen, Finding the Limits of the Limes), the EPNet project in Barcelona (http://www.roman-ep.net/ (last accessed 2019-10-15)) and recent work by Graham and Weingart (“The Equifinality of Archaeological Networks”) and Scheidel (“The Shape of the Roman World: Modelling Imperial Connectivity”).

  5. 5.

    Kessler and Temin, “Money and Prices in the Early Roman Empire”; Temin, The Roman Market Economy.

  6. 6.

    Against this objection see Temin, The Roman Market Economy, 49.

  7. 7.

    Temin, The Roman Market Economy, 41–42.

  8. 8.

    Bransbourg, “Rome and the Economic Integration of Empire”.

  9. 9.

    Scheidel, “Shape of the Roman World”.

  10. 10.

    Temin, The Roman Market Economy, 32.

  11. 11.

    Temin, The Roman Market Economy, 4.

  12. 12.

    Temin, “The Contribution of Economics”; Temin, The Roman Market Economy, 1–24.

  13. 13.

    Temin, The Roman Market Economy, 5.

  14. 14.

    Temin, The Roman Market Economy, 8.

  15. 15.

    Temin, The Roman Market Economy, 29.

  16. 16.

    Temin, The Roman Market Economy, 36.

  17. 17.

    Temin, The Roman Market Economy, 36.

  18. 18.

    Temin, The Roman Market Economy, 29–52.

  19. 19.

    Temin, The Roman Market Economy, 46.

  20. 20.

    Temin, The Roman Market Economy, 48–52.

  21. 21.

    Temin, The Roman Market Economy, 49.

  22. 22.

    Bransbourg “Rome and the Economic Integration of Empire”.

  23. 23.

    Scheidel “Shape of the Roman World”.

  24. 24.

    Erdkamp, The Grain Market in the Roman Empire.

  25. 25.

    Erdkamp, “How Modern Was the Market Economy of the Roman World”.

  26. 26.

    Erdkamp “How Modern Was the Market Economy of the Roman World,” 231 (online, p. 7).

  27. 27.

    Brughmans and Poblome, “Roman Bazaar or Market Economy”; Brughmans and Poblome, “MERCURY”.

  28. 28.

    Bang, The Roman Bazaar; Temin, The Roman Market Economy.

  29. 29.

    Bes et al., Inventory of Crafts and Trade in the Roman East; Bes and Poblome. “(Not) See the Wood for the Trees”.

  30. 30.

    Brughmans and Poblome, “Bazaar or Market Economy?”; Brughmans and Poblome, “MERCURY”.

  31. 31.

    Brughmans, “MERCURY: An ABM of Tableware Trade”.

  32. 32.

    Wilensky, “NetLogo”.

  33. 33.

    Bes et al, “ICRATES”; Inventory of Crafts and Trade in the Roman East, http://icrates.arts.kuleuven.be/icrates/network-analysis/webpages/icrates_mainframe.html (accessed 15-10-2019).

  34. 34.

    Brughmans, “MERCURY Extension: Transport-Cost”.

  35. 35.

    Brughmans, “MERCURY Extension: Transport-Cost”.

  36. 36.

    Scheidel, “Shape of the Roman World”; Temin, The Roman Market Economy.

  37. 37.

    Erdkamp “How Modern Was the Market Economy of the Roman World,” p. 231 (online, p. 7).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Urban Network Evolutions (UrbNet) and Classical Archaeology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Tom Brughmans

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Correspondence to Tom Brughmans .

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  1. Department of History, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Koenraad Verboven

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Brughmans, T. (2021). Evaluating the Potential of Computational Modelling for Informing Debates on Roman Economic Integration. In: Verboven, K. (eds) Complexity Economics. Palgrave Studies in Ancient Economies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47898-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47898-8_4

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