Introduction

Investigators: Dr S. Symons, Prof D.J. Raine

Status:Academic lead, ongoing

Programming language:NetLogo

 Based on work reported in:

Symons, S & Raine, D (2008) Agent-Based Models Of Ancient Egypt in N Strudwick (ed.) Proceedings of Informatique et Égyptologie, Georgias Press

Abstract

 Complex systems theory is the study of emergent collective behaviour in sets of agents that can be represented as interacting according to simple rules. It is a fast-growing field which brings together many disciplines. The area crosses between computational science and sociology and can provide insight into the development of cultural practices. Early civilisations provide interesting backgrounds for models: for example, Anasazi society has been studied using agent-based modelling (Dean et al. 2006). Conversely, a model of, for example, ancient Egypt can be used to illustrate concepts from complex systems theory and test the universality of these concepts. In the Fractal House of Pharaoh, Mark Lehner outlines a complex systems view of ancient Egyptian civilisation (Lehner 2000). We build on some of the aspects of this view in an agentbased computer model.

 The model presented here is designed to investigate the spread of information and population aggregation in an agrarian society. The model is based on an abstracted Egyptian landscape containing villages, flood plain, and river. The agents represent farming households which exchange information and migrate around the landscape motivated by the availability of surplus food (used as a proxy for quality of life). We shall use this to illustrate some of the key ideas of agent-based modelling and complex systems. Future work will attempt to construct more realistic models to explore the impact of special features of Egyptian geography and society on the development of the civilisation.

NetLogo Model

An embedded copy of the program can be viewed at our mirror site here.

References

• Dean, J. S., Gumerman, G. J., Epstein, J. M., Axtell, R. L., Swedlund, A. C., Parker, M. T., and McCarroll, S. (2006) ‘Understanding Anasazi culture change through agent-based modeling.’ in Epstein, J. M. Generative Social Science: Studies in Agent-Based Computational Modeling (Princeton Studies in Complexity). Princeton University Press, 90–116.

• Lehner, M. (2000) ‘Fractal house of pharaoh: ancient Egypt as a complex adaptive system, a trial formulation.’ in Kohler, T. A. and Gumerman, G. J. (eds.) Dynamics in Human and Primate Societies: Agent-Based Modeling of Social and Spatial Processes .Oxford University Press, 275–353.