The Groningen Roman Economy Group

The Roman Empire was the largest empire in the world of its time. From the bleak and foggy hills of northern England to the arid deserts of southern Egypt, it was not only the most populous state of its time, but also the most urbanized state of any period of pre-industrial European history, with 2000-3000 smaller cities all over the Empire, but also with large cities such as Roman Carthage, Antioch, Alexandria, and, above all the city of Rome itself, with a population of perhaps a million. It was integrated by a dense network of roads, and by a system of military, legal and financial institutions such as the world would not see again for a long time after. Its material culture surpassed anything that had come before, and would not be surpassed again, perhaps, until the Industrial revolution.

THE GRONINGEN ROMAN ECONOMY GROUP brings together senior scholars and PhD students from the departments of history, archaeology and economics with an active research interest in the economy of the Roman Empire. In particular, it aims to encourage interdisciplinary cooperation between Roman economic historians, modern economic historians, economists, archaeologists and natural scientists. Thus, it serves as a platform for mutual inspiration and collaboration, and as an informal conduit for international collaboration. Nationally, its members are involved in the national Research Schools for Classics (OIKOS), Archaeology (ARCHON) and Economic History (N.W. Posthumus Institute). Internationally, there is close collaboration with the Oxford Roman Economy Project, and with individual scholars world-wide.

Senior members
Peter A.J. Attema (archaeology)
René T.J. Cappers (archaeology)
Jan P.A.M. Jacobs (economics)
Willem M. Jongman (convener, history)
P. Martijn van Leusen (archaeology)
Albert J. Nijboer (archaeology)
Richard F.J. Paping (history)

PhD students
Frits B.J. Heinrich (archaeology)
Harri Kiiskinen (history)
Geertje M. Klein Goldewijk (archaeology)
Melissa L. Ratliff (history)
Olaf P.N. Satijn (archaeology)

Postdocs
Tymon C.A. de Haas (archaeology)
Gijs W. Tol (archaeology)