The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea : A Network Approach

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

Data on quantity or volume remains absent, and information that is not in the text is also not a factor in the network.

“Data on quantity or volume, for instance, remains absent, and information that is not in the text is also not a factor in the network.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

Avalites remains unidentified, but must have been located on the African coastline very near the straits of Bab al-Mandab.

“The other port mentioned, Avalites, remains unidentified, but must have been located on the African coastline very near the straits of Bab al-Mandab”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The resulting graph (fig.2) is not dramatically different from the previous one, but it does highlight regions with many ports.

“The result-ing graph (fig.2) is not dramatically different from the previous one, but it does highlight regions with many ports.”

• AssumptionThe authors state this as an assumption: Ports with close geographic proximity were connected not only to their closest neighbours but also to the second closest and so on.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

Throughout the text the Periplus acknowledges wider trade originating in Arabia, Africa, India, the Persian Gulf and the Malay Peninsula, but mostly as a backdrop to the primary objective.

“Throughout the text the Periplus also acknowledges the wider trade originating in Arabia, Africa, India, the Persian Gulf and the Malay Peninsula, but mostly as a backdrop to the primary objective.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

In fig. 2 the Gulf of Aden, both coasts of southern India, and northwestern India stand out as regional clusters with groups of well-connected nodes.

“In fig. 2 the Gulf of Aden, both coasts of southern India, and northwestern India stand out as regional clusters with groups of well-connected nodes.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

There is no information in figure 3 that is not present in the text of the Periplus.

“As with the network visualised in fig. 1, there is no information in figure 3 that is not present in the text of the Periplus.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Wine could also be procured from Muza in Yemen, where the commodity was bought as well as sold, and from Apologos in Southern Mesopotamia.

“Wine could also be procured from Muza in Yemen, where the commodity was bought as well as sold and from Apologos in Southern Mesopotamia.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The port Malao can be certainly identified with Berbera in present-day Somalia.

“this port can be certainly identified with Berbera in present-day Somalia.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Barygaza goes from 25 to 27 edges; Malao goes from four to six edges by adding connections to neighbouring ports, a 50% increase in network weight.

“While the major port of Barygaza goes from 25 to 27 edges, the port of Malao, described in the text with connections to northwestern India (Barygaza), Myos Hormos and Berenike, as well as Muza in present day Yemen, goes from four to six edges by adding connections to neighbouring ports poa 50 % increase in network weight.”

• AssumptionThe authors state this as an assumption: Ports with close geographic proximity were connected not only to their closest neighbours but also to the second closest and so on.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Finds of ceramics from Tissamaharana in Sri Lanka at Khor Rori in Oman could add nodes and edges to the network that can be analysed in the same manner as those extracted from the Periplus.

“Thus the finds of ceramics from Tissamaharana in Sri Lanka at Khor Rori in Oman,foot_6 could add nodes and edges to the network that can be analysed in the same manner as those extracted from the Periplus.”

• cites foot_6Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.

The visualisation allows us to look for possible connections between non-Roman/Egyptian agents in early Indian Ocean trade that are likely to be underrepresented in the Periplus.

“In this way the visualisation allows us to look for possible connections between non-Roman/Egyptian agents in early Indian Ocean trade that are likely to be underrepresented in the Periplus.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

Network analysis is a toolkit that can be used to visualise and measure data.

“Network analysis is a toolkit that can be used to visualise and measure data.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

The Periplus emphasizes shipping from Egypt to Africa, Arabia and India because this was the trade the author or his sources had experience of and special interest in.

“One example is the emphasis on shipping from Egypt to Africa, Arabia and India.This was the trade that the author of the Periplus or his sources had experience of and special interest in.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

One must expect that these ports were also home to seafaring communities.

“One must expect that these ports were also home to seafaring communities.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

Barygaza's connectivity is not surprising, given northwestern India's centrality in Western Indian Ocean connectivity as well as its overland connections with Central Asia.

“Barygaza's connectivity is not surprising, given northwestern India's centrality in Western Indian Ocean connectivity as well as its overland connections with Central Asia.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.

Over-reliance on the Periplus will inevitably reproduce the shortcomings of the source.

“Over-reliance on the Periplus will inevitably reproduce the shortcomings of the source.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

While Mediterranean demand was certainly one important factor in Indian Ocean commerce, the extent and importance of other networks, and their dynamics, remain imperfectly understood.

“while Mediterranean demand was certainly one important factor in Indian Ocean commerce, the extent and importance of other networks, and their dynamics, remain imperfectly understood.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The visualisation allows us to appreciate the role of Adulis in Eritrea and Muza in Yemen as regional centres of long-distance trade and as gateways in the network, interconnecting wider regional and Indian Ocean scale networks.

“Another benefit of this visualisation is that it allows us to appreciate the role of Adulis in Eritrea and Muza in Yemen as regional centres of long-distance trade and as gateways in the network, interconnecting wider regional and Indian Ocean scale networks.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The Egyptian ports, although clearly among the most important in the network, are primarily noteworthy for their many long-distance connections, which is to be expected, as this commerce was the main interest of the author of the Periplus.

“In contrast the Egyptian ports, although clearly among the most important in the network, are primarily noteworthy for their many longdistance connections, which is to be expected, as this commerce was the main interest of the author of the Periplus.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

If textiles, minerals, and aromatics move along different trajectories, it is reasonable to assume that they also belonged to different sub-networks, operated by different actors.

“If, for e.g.textiles, minerals, and aromatics move along different trajectories, it is reasonable to assume that they also belonged to different sub-networks, operated by different actors.17”

• cites [17]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• AssumptionThe authors state this as an assumption: If textiles, minerals, and aromatics move along different trajectories, they also belonged to different sub-networks, operated by different actors.

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

All too often Indian Ocean archaeologists use the Periplus as a source of identification and confirmation of their sites and finds, while historians and philologists use archaeological data to confirm and illustrate the text.

“All too often Indian Ocean archaeologists use the Periplus as a source of identification and confirmation of their sites and finds, while historians and philologists use archaeological data to confirm and illustrate the text.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

Production and demand in different regions is likely to have been relatively stable over time, dependent on which natural resources were locally available, while the fortunes of ports varied with political changes.

“Production and demand in different regions is likely to have been relatively stable over time, dependent on which natural resources were locally available, while the fortunes of ports varied with political changes.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

The Periplus's extensive influence on scholarship is problematic because it reflects the limited information and cultural and personal bias of its unknown author.

“Its extensive influence on scholarship is, however, also problematic, as it reflects the limited information and cultural and personal bias of its unknown author.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

Network analysis is neutral with regard to data.

“Finally, and perhaps most importantly, network analysis is neutral with regard to data.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.

The information offered in the Periplus reflects the limited knowledge, personal interests, and cultural biases of the person and his informants.

“the information offered in this text reflects the limited knowledge, personal interests, and cultural biases of the person and his informants.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

Network analysis allows mapping, visualizing and measuring interconnectedness in the Periplus Maris Erythraei.

“Network analysis allows us to map, visualize and measure interconnectedness in the Periplus Maris Erythraei.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.

With regard to the Periplus, network analysis allows us to depart from the narrative of the text and view Indian Ocean trade as it appeared from different points of view.

“With regard to the Periplus it allows us to depart from the narrative of the text and view Indian Ocean trade as it appeared from different points of view.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

The commodity-port network can seamlessly integrate archaeological sites and artefacts along with those mentioned in the text.

“The commodity-port network can seamlessly integrate archaeological sites and artefacts alongwith those mentioned in the text.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

Network analysis has proven a useful tool for statistical re-visualising of archaeological and textual material, allowing for explicit, and in many cases testable, modelling of connections.

“Network analysis has made major inroads into archaeology and history over the last decade 8 and has, among other things, proven a useful tool for statistical re-visualising of archaeological and textual material, allowing for explicit, and in many cases testable, modelling of connections.”

• cites [8]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

Even if East Africa was not well known to the author of the Periplus or other classical authors, approaching the lists of exports and imports as a network reveals that people in many places on the Indian Ocean rim, for instance in the Persian Gulf, were interested in goods offered on the East African coastline.

“Thus, even if East Africa was not well known to the author of the Periplus or other classical authors,foot_3 approaching the lists of exports and imports as a network reveals that people in many places on the Indian Ocean rim, for instance in the Persian Gulf, were interested in goods offered on the East African coastline.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. It may state two separate claims as one.

The added value of the visualisation is that it allows us to move from product to product and port to port, and thus explore the entire supply/demand network contained in the Periplus at the same time.

“The added value of the visualisation is that it allows us to move from product to product and port to port, and thus explore the entire supply/demand network contained in the Periplus at the same time.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

While the narrative of the Periplus relates only what the author knew was traded in each port, the graph gives access to information on all the places where these products were available.

“While the narrative of the Periplus relates only what the author knew was traded in each port, the graph gives access to information on all the places where these products were available.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. It may state two separate claims as one.

While Arabian, Indian, Persian Gulf and Bay of Bengal circuits might become more visible by the above exercise, places and regions that the author of the Periplus did not care about, or did not know of, remain in the shadows.

“While Arabian, Indian, Persian Gulf and Bay of Bengal circuits might become more visible by the above exercise, places and regions that the author of the Periplus did not care about, or did not know of, remain in the shadows.”