Modelling Maritime Trade Systems: Agent-Based Simulation and Medieval History
Authored by Ulf Christian Ewert, Marco Sunder
Date Published: 2018
DOI: 10.12759/hsr.43.2018.1.110-143
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Mathematical description
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Abstract
Maritime trade grew enormously in Europe after c. 1100 AD, thereby
contributing much to the European economic take-off commonly considered
as the ``Commercial Revolution of the Middle Ages.{''} In this article,
determinants of both the formation of the Hanse's network based system
of trade in Northern Europe and its later dissolution are analysed using
a multi-agent model. Findings are connected to the discussion in
institutional economics and economic history concerning the importance
of institutional developments in long-distance trade for economic growth
in medieval Europe, the efficiency of self-enforcing institutions, and
the divergence of institutional arrangements in medieval maritime trade.
Finally, both potentials and limitations of agent-based models for
historical research are discussed.
Tags
exchange
Dynamics
networks
Multi-agent models
Commercial revolution
Medieval maritime trade
Network organisation
Hanse
Economic institutions
Maghribi traders