Analyzing agricultural decision making in the Late Roman Empire: a case study from the Göksü Valley, Turkey

Abstract

In the Roman World, at least 80% and up to 95% of the population lived and

worked in a rural environment, driving the agronomic economy of the empire. During the Late Roman Empire (AD 300-600), there were a number of widespread political, social, and economic changes faced by the people who made up the empire. Through all these changes, the empire maintained its tax collection and households maintained agricultural

production. I will be examining settlement in the rural region of Isauria (Rough Cilicia) to understand the Late Roman agricultural production in a rural environment. This thesis focuses on the decision making that all economic levels of households would face when producing goods within this Late Roman Economy. Using an economic theory of the peasant economy, I develop a framework through which to view the agronomic

production of the Late Roman Period which I use to understand the household as an agent.

Author Keywords: Ancient Economy, Isauria, Late Roman, Peasant Economy, Roman Economy

    Item Description
    Type
    Contributors
    Creator (cre): van Merlin, Amandah
    Thesis advisor (ths): Elton, Hugh
    Degree committee member (dgc): Iannone, Gyles
    Degree committee member (dgc): Munson, Marit
    Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University
    Date Issued
    2015
    Date (Unspecified)
    2015
    Place Published
    Peterborough, ON
    Language
    Extent
    212 pages
    Rights
    Copyright is held by the author, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise noted.
    Local Identifier
    TC-OPET-10240
    Publisher
    Trent University
    Degree
    Master of Arts (M.A.): Anthropology