Analyzing agricultural decision making in the Late Roman Empire

Description

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