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Epidemiological modeling of Romanization and Christianization in Ancient Greece

Author

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  • Laurent Gauthier

    (Université Paris 8 Saint-Denis Vincennes
    Institut Rhônalpin des Systèmes Complexes (IXXI), ENS Lyon
    ArScAn - UMR 7041)

Abstract

The spread of culture has been often paralleled with epidemic contagion. We propose to use models of this type to analyze Romanization and Christianization through onomastic data (names). We first examine the spread of Romanity in the ancient Greek world, and then the spread of Christianism, through the dynamics of Roman and Christian names acquisition. The dynamics of the transition from a pure Greek world to a Romanized world appear to have been fundamentally driven by an intense adoption of Romanity combined with an equally intense return to traditional Greek names. The transition from pagan to Christian names, on the other hand, was more permanent, leading to a more explosive acquisition pattern.

Suggested Citation

  • Laurent Gauthier, 2025. "Epidemiological modeling of Romanization and Christianization in Ancient Greece," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 19(2), pages 421-444, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:cliomt:v:19:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s11698-024-00291-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11698-024-00291-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Claude Diebolt, 2011. "The Stakes of Cliometrics in Ancient History," Historical Social Research (Section 'Cliometrics'), Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC), vol. 36(3), pages 350-361.
    2. Walters, Caroline E. & Kendal, Jeremy R., 2013. "An SIS model for cultural trait transmission with conformity bias," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 56-63.
    3. Benjamin Golub & Matthew O. Jackson, 2010. "Naïve Learning in Social Networks and the Wisdom of Crowds," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 2(1), pages 112-149, February.
    4. Laurent Gauthier, 2022. "Putting Clio Back in Cliometrics," Post-Print hal-03289608, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ancient Greece; Culture diffusion; Epidemiology; SIS models; Romanization; Christianization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion
    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • B4 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology

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