Workshop on Cliometrics in the Ancient World: Data, Methods, and Challenges

Cliometrics in the Ancient World: Data, Methods, and Challenges: Workshop at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, in collaboration with Universiteit Gent and UPO Patronized by the Roman Society Research Center

MAY 9, 2025

The workshop will be held in a hybrid form. All the info for registration and attendance can be found here: https://sites.google.com/uniupo.it/cliometrics Cliometrics is often associated with the study of pre-industrial societies, particularly those of the early modern period and, less frequently, the Middle Ages. By contrast, the ancient world has long been seen as less suited to such approaches. Recent advances, however, have demonstrated significant progress in measuring the economic performance of ancient societies. Nevertheless, the application of cliometric methods remains one of the foremost challenges facing historians, archaeologists, and economists.

This workshop aims to explore recent developments in this field, highlighting advancements in data collection, methodologies, and quantitative tools that bring the ancient world closer to cliometric analysis. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, the event seeks to shed light on both the potential and the limitations of applying cliometrics to ancient economic history.

• Chair: Koen Verboven (Universiteit Gent).

• Organizing committee: Silvio Traverso (Università del Piemonte Orientale), Luigi Oddo (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Maxime Smits (Vrije Universiteit Brussel). Program (Brussels time): 14:00 Welcome address

  14:15 Panel I - Measuring Wealth and Crisis in the Roman World 

  • Erfurth, P.E. (New York University) Estimating Income Inequality in Rural Roman Egypt.

  • Hartley, T. (Universität zu Köln) Sufficiency, shocks, and diminishing returns: The Crises of the Roman Republic.

  • Taelman, D. (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) Marble as Economic Proxy: Quantifying the Consumption and Distribution of Decorative Stone in the Roman World.

  • Traverso, S. (Università del Piemonte Orientale) Economic Dynamics of the Early Roman Empire: Insights from Lead Pollution, Coinage, Weather, and War (with Oddo, L., and Verboven, K.)

  15:35 Coffee break

  16:00 Panel II - Transitions and Trends: Economic and Social Metrics Across Eras 

  • Adamson, J. (Universität Leipzig) Peace and its correlates in the Ancient World (with Fitzsimmons, P.R.).  

  • Martinez, M. (Università di Pisa) Assessing Ancient Inequalities: Hellenistic Delos (with Battistoni, F.).

  • Oddo, L. (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) Climate, Agriculture, and Economic Stability: Reassessing the Impact of Weather on Tuscany in the 16th–17th Century (with Erdkamp, P.).

  17:00 Closing remarks 19:00 Workshop dinner at nearby venue