This document summarizes an agent-based model of Roman resource extraction that simulates economic and social interactions over generations. The model represents an economy, environment, and patronage system. In each cycle, agents harvest resources, move to consume resources, and can become clients to ask for help or support others. The model is run for 50 generations under different resource settings. Results are analyzed based on network growth, participation rates, and correspondence to archaeological evidence of social networks, showing patterns of inequality emerge for certain resource conditions. While useful for understanding Roman growth, the model has limitations and can be improved with more archaeological and historical network data.

1. Agent Based Modeling & Roman Resource ExtractionAn exploratory labShawn Graham, Carleton Universityshawn_graham@carleton.ca@electricarchaeo

2. The problem with Roman resourcesEvidenceGrowth and the extractive economy?

3. Harold Innis & the intellectual foundations for growth

5. Agent modelingNecessary simplificationsSimulation: not of the past, but of our thinking about the pastBill Murray & Groundhog Day

6. The modelEconomyEnvironmentPatronage....in a resource economy, patronage enables effective exploitation...

7. An Example of Model Code

8. Set up the basics:1. create a world with a resource.2. harvest3. movement = consumes resource.4. consumption > resource = death.

9. Add patronage:5. can ask for help (become a client)6. can help others; can improve the world7. compete & support

10. In practice, one cycle looks like this:

11. Model ResultsFour different resource settingsModel stops at 50 generations# of cycles it takes to reach that end point: stability, instabilityGenerated social networks: Network growthNetwork reach (participation rate)EmbeddednessCompare with real-world social networks

12. Correspondence with observed brick networks in first & second centuriesOther patterns‘strong’ network growth implications Occurs for particular settings for forest, mineral, and clayembeddedness

13. Lab conclusionsPatterns of inequalityWhat kind of growth?

14. From the lab to the real world: an agendaA framework for understanding... BUTNeed more & better network data from antiquityEpigraphy, prosopography, archaeometry, regional distribution studies, etc can provide thisA model is just a tool for sharpening thoughts. Model shortcomings & desiderata