Social Network Analysis in Ancient History: Julius Caesar
The upcoming Social Network Analysis (SNA) has been a tool for many subjects and objects in history and contemporary research. However, in ancient history SNA has been commonly used by archaeologists for the mapping of the origins of artifacts. Visual data as the end result of an network analysis provide interesting data for scholars and researchers. It gives a different, analytical view on information of the past. In this way, SNA could be used as a perspective for historians. This perspective leads to new insights regarding individuals, groups of people or networks in common. The SNA performed on Julius Caesar precedes the well known stories from history handbooks, it is an experiment of visualizing ancient writings for discoveries of the past.
What is Social Network Analysis?
Within in the context of network theory, Social Network Analysis is one of the leading tools for research of sociologists. The core of the network theory lies in the studying of patterns, chaos and organization of people or object. In short, networks are entities of any kind, linked by together in some way.[1] Thus network analysis is the base, but SNA seeks for the role of the ‘social’ part in networks. They are considered social because of the object of research: humans, either in groups or as individuals. SNA provides theories and concepts for the position of individuals or groups within a network, based on interaction, relations, behavior or even hierarchy. In SNA individuals are known as nodes/actors and the relation between individuals are called relational ties.[2]
[1] Diane Harris Cline, Six Degrees of Alexander: Social Network Analysis as a Tool for Ancient History, (Url: http://ancienthistorybulletin.ca/SelArt/0006b.HarrisCline.pdf, last visit on 8 june 2013), 60.
[2] Katherine Faust and Stanley Wasserman, Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), 17-18.
[1] Diane Harris Cline, Six Degrees of Alexander: Social Network Analysis as a Tool for Ancient History, (Url: http://ancienthistorybulletin.ca/SelArt/0006b.HarrisCline.pdf, last visit on 8 june 2013), 60.
[2] Katherine Faust and Stanley Wasserman, Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), 17-18.
Julius Caesar in Suetonius’ The Emperors of Rome.
For this particular network analysis, the writings of Suetonius has been used as the primary source of information. Suetonius’ The Emperors of Rome is a collection of biographies on Roman emperors, including Julius Caesar. This work, from the first century, is described as sober, pragmatic and exact by translators.[1] The biography on Caesar’s life encompasses the emperor’s entire life, from his birth in 100 until his death in 44 B.C. The story from this primary source presents Caesar as a man surrounded by politics, war, love and marriage. His life could be characterized as one of conflict. The descriptions of Caesar by Suetonius, although punctual, are limited: the Roman writer is primarily dedicated to writing on events and individuals. In this way, he neglects an encompassing view of the people in Caesar’s life. The upcoming SNA offers an additional perspective.
[1] Seutonius, De Keizers van Rome. (Amsterdam: Athenaeum-Polak & van Gennep, 1997), 15.
[1] Seutonius, De Keizers van Rome. (Amsterdam: Athenaeum-Polak & van Gennep, 1997), 15.
Julius Caesar in SNA as a method.
Julius Caesar's network. Created by NodeXL, june 2013.
Social Network Analysis in its most basic form is a method. It collects data and information for the creation of a mathematical model, a graph. Within this graph, the nodes en ties are shown in relation to each other and provide a visualization of the social truth or reality (in this case: Suetonius’ The Emperors of Rome). NodeXL is a program with the ability to generate graphs for the use of SNA. All individuals linked to Caesar by Suetonius’s are used as the data for this analysis. These nodes, and their relation to Caesar, are the base of research. The end result of the method, the graph, gives a possibility to open for new perspectives on the network or life of Julius Caesar.
A new perspective
A number of different question can be asked looking at the graph of Caesar’ network. But for now, the focus will be the general character of the his network. Apparently most of his network consists out of politicians (notice the high quantity of purple, red and blue nodes) and family members (pink). The red (political enemies) and blue (political friends) nodes have a special character. An interesting remark might be the existence of certain groups of people (shown on the right in the graph), and their connection with others than Caesar. Most of these are just individuals with a certain relation to Caesar, but some have form groups. Gaius Cassius, Marcus, Decimus Brutus and Tillius Cimber are political enemies have seemed to grouped together for a certain goal: the murder of Caesar. The group of Publius Sulla, Marcus Crassus and Lucius Autronius is a close network in itself, all of them have a connection to each other and to Caesar. Ironically, one of Caesar’s lovers was Tertulla (Marcus Crassus’ wife). Family member are also found in the political world. Gaius Marcellus and Octavia are connected with politicians in grouped network, such as Pompeius’. So it could be asked: is Caesar’s life dominated by conflict? The results of the SNA of Julius Caesar give a new perspective. Conflict might have played a role in the life of the Emperor but most certainly, he was also surrounded by tight groups of friends and family, and neutral individuals with relations amongst others.
L.S., June 2013
Literature
Cline, D.H., Six degrees of Alexanders: Social Network Analysis as a tool for Ancient History. (Url: http://ancienthistorybulletin.ca/SelArt/0006b.HarrisCline.pdf, geraadpleegd op 8 mei 2013)
Faust, K.. en S., Wasserman, Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
Seutonius, De Keizers van Rome. Amsterdam: Athenaeum-Polak & van Gennep, 1997.
Faust, K.. en S., Wasserman, Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
Seutonius, De Keizers van Rome. Amsterdam: Athenaeum-Polak & van Gennep, 1997.
Further reading
Kadushin, C., Understanding social networks: Theories, Concepts, and Findings. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012.
Scott, J. and P.J. Carrington , Ed.,The Sage handbook of social network analysis. London: SAGE, 2011.
Scott, J. and P.J. Carrington , Ed.,The Sage handbook of social network analysis. London: SAGE, 2011.
NodeXL
For more information visit: http://nodexl.codeplex.com/